Josh Hazlewood pleads guilty to dissent in umpire row

Christchurch, Feb 23: Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood pleaded guilty to dissent today following a profanity-laced confrontation with the umpires in the second Test against New Zealand, an Australian team spokesman said.

Match scorecard

Tempers flared after a Hazlewood lbw appeal for the wicket of Kane Williamson was turned down. Hazlewood was heard to use a swear word as players angrily converged on the umpires.

The team spokesman said there was no immediate word on a penalty for Hazlewood. The stumps microphones at Hagley Oval picked up the obscenity ("Who the f*** is third umpire?") from Hazlewood and others when the Australians converged on umpires Richard Kettleborough and Ranmore Martinesz.

Hazlewood's appeal for the wicket of Williamson on 88 was rejected by Martinesz in the last over before lunch and the third umpire Richard Illingworth, after reviewing a replay, agreed Williamson was not out.

Australian fast bowler Jackson Bird said the angry reaction was down to frustration after a tough morning in the field in which they failed to take a wicket.

"We bowled pretty well in the first session and we probably thought it was out, but those 50-50 calls either go your way or they don't," he said.

"It was probably the frustration of the whole session. We'd bowled pretty well and hadn't got a wicket and we'd been pretty close a couple of times."

AFP