Umpire admits to mistakes

South African umpire Rudi Koertzen admitted yesterday that he may have made mistakes in the second Test between South Africa and England but said he was honest and was determined to prove he was a good official.

Koertzen was savaged in the English press after giving three English batsmen out to dubious decisions on Monday in the drawn match at Port Elizabeth.

"If I say I didn't make mistakes I would be a liar," he told Britain's Radio Five.

"I can probably recall two - I missed the lbw on Gary Kirsten and maybe Chris Adams. There was a noise but if he didn't hit it then I'm sorry I had it wrong."

Adams was the victim of the fourth bad decision of the day on Monday. He was incredulous when given out after the ball looped up off his pads and was caught by Jonty Rhodes who did not appeal.

Opener Mark Butcher was the first to suffer as he was given out lbw to a ball pitching outside leg stump while another impressive innings by Michael Vaughan was brought to a premature end when Koertzen gave him out caught behind when television replays appeared to show no contact.

West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor then gave Alec Stewart out lbw to a ball that appeared to be missing leg stump by a distance.

Former England captain and all-rounder Ian Botham, working at the Test for television, said: "You are being very polite if you say those decisions were dreadful. A couple of them were beyond me." But Koertzen said he had no idea that the England players had been unhappy with his performance.

"After what I have heard now I will watch the highlights to see where I got it wrong," he said. "If it's a problem I will apologise.

"Then I'll go out in the fifth Test (in Pretoria where he is due to stand) and prove to them I am a good umpire."

Koertzen, from Port Elizabeth, said he did not think having two neutral umpires was necessary.

"I am an absolutely honest man and I go out there to do my best," he said. "Neutral umpires would not change that."

South Africa lead the series 1-0 and the third Test starts in Durban on December 26th.