Benson set to explain exit

Mark Benson explains a decision to Australia captain Ricky Ponting on the first day versus West Indies at Adelaide

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Mark Benson’s future as a top-level umpire is expected to be clarified tomorrow following dialogue with his International Cricket Council bosses.

Benson, 51, quit the second Test between Australia and West Indies after the first day without a definitive reason being given.

He has arrived back in the UK and has been in talks with ICC umpires chief Vince van der Bijl today - the world governing body expect him to make a statement within the next 36 hours.

Although the ICC have maintained former England batsman Benson withdrew from duty due to health reasons, there have been suggestions he was upset with the implementation of the umpire decision review system during the opening day in Adelaide.

But asked whether the sole reason was health, ICC general manager Dave Richardson told Sky Sports News: “We can categorically say that.”

Of reports anger at the referral system had caused the walk-out, he added: “It’s totally inaccurate.”

Benson has a recent history of health problems - he was due to stand in the first four matches of India’s one-day series against Australia, which began in late October, but failed to make the field in any match due to high blood pressure and stomach problems.

“What we can say without speaking to Mark himself is that he quit the Test for a combination of health and pressure problems,” Richardson added. "Coping with a very pressured job proved too much for him.”

Whatever Benson reveals in the aftermath of his departure, it is hard to imagine him continuing as an elite ICC official.

“It’s going to be up to him,” Richardson continued. “But we are only able to contract a certain number of umpires and only if they are up to the job.”

Controversy engulfed the opening day between Australia and West Indies tourists when Benson twice ruled Shivnarine Chanderpaul not out following appeals for caught behind.

Asad Rauf, who was adjudicating as television umpire, upheld Benson's first ruling, much to the displeasure of the bowler Doug Bollinger and Australia captain Ricky Ponting.

However, Benson's second decision was overruled despite there being no clear evidence of contact with the bat from the 'Hot Spot' technology employed in the decision-review process.