View source for Peter Cronin

{{Short description|Australian cricket umpire (born 1947)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}

'''Peter Michael Cronin''' (born 21 December 1947) is a former [[Australian Test Cricket Umpires|Australian Test cricket match umpire]], from [[South Australia]].<ref name="Cricinfo">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/4852.html |title=Peter Cronin |accessdate=16 May 2014 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref>

==Umpiring career==
Cronin was one of two Australian on-field umpires in the [[Underarm bowling incident of 1981]].

He umpired in one [[Test cricket|Test match]] in 1980 between [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] and [[English cricket team|England]] at [[Melbourne Cricket Ground|Melbourne]] on 1 February to 6 February 1980, won by Australia by 8 wickets. The other on-fiend umpire was [[Robin Bailhache]].

Cronin umpired six [[One Day International]] (ODI) matches between 1979 and 1981. Altogether, he umpired 18 first-class matches in his career between 1977 and 1988.

=== Underarm bowling incident of 1981 ===
{{main|Underarm bowling incident of 1981}}
Cronin was officiating alongside fellow Australian umpire [[Don Weser]] during a match between Australia and New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 1 February 1981 when [[Trevor Chappell]] bowled the final ball [[underarm]], which caused great controversy. Cronin was standing at the striker's end when Weser was informed by the Australian captain [[Greg Chappell]] that his brother Trevor would bowl the final ball underarm, thus denying New Zealand the chance to hit a six and tie the game. This incident, illegal in England though legal at the time in Australia.

The match branded as the Underarm incident was notable for several umpiring controversies.

During the Australian innings, [[Martin Snedden]] claimed a low outfield catch off the batting of Greg Chappell when Chappell was on 58.<ref>Wisden Cricketers Almanack – 119th edition (1982)</ref> In his live commentary former Australian cricket captain [[Richie Benaud]] exclaimed "that is one of the best catches I have ever seen in my life".<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/x6agc6mYEkE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20161008060656/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6agc6mYEkE&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6agc6mYEkE| title = W T F Australia??? Why do they cheat at cricket? F*CK! Greg Chappell given not out- GREAT CATCH! | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Following a short discussion, Snedden's catch was ruled not out by the two Australian umpires, Weser and Cronin. It was some years before TV replays could be used in umpiring decisions. However the Channel Nine TV broadcast did show viewers a number of slow motion replays of Snedden's catch from various TV angles including a close up of Snedden diving to fairly claim the catch. After reviewing several TV replays Benaud re-affirmed what he had initially seen live, stating in his commentary: "there is no question in my mind that that was a great catch - clearly caught above the ground, a superb catch."<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211209/x6agc6mYEkE Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20161008060656/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6agc6mYEkE&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite AV media| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6agc6mYEkE| title = W T F Australia??? Why do they cheat at cricket? F*CK! Greg Chappell given not out- GREAT CATCH! | website=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Chappell went on to score 90 in his innings.

In yet another umpiring controversy during the match, Australia had one too many fielders outside the field restriction line when the final ball was bowled meaning the underarm delivery should have been adjudged a no-ball by the umpires.<ref>The Underarm Ball That Changed Cricket, Abhishek Raghunath, Forbes India, 11 February 2011</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of Test cricket umpires]]
* [[List of One Day International cricket umpires]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ESPNcricinfo|id=4852}}
* [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/8411.html Don Weser] at [[Cricinfo]]
* {{CricketArchive|id=36168}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cronin, Peter}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Australian Test cricket umpires]]
[[Category:Australian One Day International cricket umpires]]


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