Peter McConnell

Who is Peter McConnell?

Peter John McConnell, was an Australian Test cricket match umpire, from Western Australia.

He umpired 22 Test matches between 1983 and 1992. His first match was between Australia and Pakistan at Perth on 11 November to 14 November 1983, won by Australia by an innings and 9 runs, with Wayne Phillips scoring a century on debut, Graham Yallop also scoring a century and Carl Rackemann taking 11 wickets. McConnell’s partner was Mel Johnson.

McConnell’s last Test match was between Australia and India at Adelaide on 25 January to 29 January 1992, won by Australia by 38 runs with second innings centuries to David Boon and Mark Taylor after a first innings of only 145, and two 5-wicket bags by Craig McDermott. Wisden noted that the game was “marred … by controversy over lbw decisions – eight times Indians were given out, while all but two of their own appeals were rejected”. McConnell’s colleague was Darrell Hair.

During the 1990-91 England tour more controversy arose when England spinner Phil Tufnell asked McConnell how many balls were left in his over. McConnell replied "Count them yerself, yer Pommy bastard" putting in question his neutrality as umpire. A few overs later, David Boon stepped back to cut Tufnell and got a thick nick into Jack Russell's gloves. Boon, as was his right, stood unmoved. McConnell looked Tufnell straight in the eye and said: "Not out". "You f****** bastard," was Tufnell's response.