Greatest Cricket Moments

Cricket's First Third-Umpire Decision — Sachin Tendulkar, Durban 1992

1992-11-14South Africa vs India1st Test, India tour of South Africa 1992-932 min readSeverity: Moderate

Summary

On November 14, 1992 at Kingsmead, Sachin Tendulkar became the first batter in cricket history to be given out by a third umpire. Cyril Mitchley referred a tight run-out call upstairs to Karl Liebenberg, who confirmed Tendulkar was out for 11. The technology era of decision-making had begun.

Background

Television technology had become central to cricket broadcasting in the late 1980s. The ICC had been resisting in-game video referrals; the SuperSport-broadcast 1992-93 series in South Africa was the first authorised trial.

Build-Up

It was the opening Test of South Africa's first home series since readmission. India batted first; Tendulkar had walked in at 38 for 2.

What Happened

South Africa's tour of India had been only the second time a Test had ever used television replays for run-out decisions; the ICC trial was authorised mid-1992. The first official referral came in the first innings of the Durban Test. Tendulkar was on 11. He played Brian McMillan to point and set off for a single. Jonty Rhodes — already developing the reputation made permanent earlier in the year — picked up clean and threw at the stumps. Tendulkar dived. On-field umpire Cyril Mitchley signalled a 'TV' with his hands, the very first time the gesture was used in international cricket. Karl Liebenberg in the box reviewed the replay and pressed the red button. Out. Tendulkar walked. Within five years third-umpire referrals would be standard for run-outs and stumpings worldwide.

Key Moments

1

Tendulkar pushes McMillan to point, calls for a quick single

2

Jonty Rhodes — backward point — picks clean and throws

3

Tendulkar dives at the bowler's end

4

Cyril Mitchley signals the box with his fingers — first ever TV referral

5

Karl Liebenberg sees the bat short of the line — red light

6

Tendulkar walks for 11; first batter ever given out by replay

Timeline

November 13, 1992

Test begins at Kingsmead, Durban.

November 14, 1992

Tendulkar 11 — referred upstairs and given out — first ever.

Match drawn

Series ends with South Africa winning 1-0.

Notable Quotes

“I made history at the wrong end of it. But it was a fair decision.”

— Sachin Tendulkar

“I just pressed the red light. I didn't think I was making history.”

— Karl Liebenberg, third umpire

Aftermath

Tendulkar himself later joked he 'made history at the wrong end of it'. The Durban Test was drawn. The third-umpire trial was extended; by 1994 the system was used in every Test-playing nation, and Hawk-Eye, Snicko and the Decision Review System would all eventually trace their lineage back to Liebenberg's red light.

⚖️ The Verdict

A landmark in cricket administration — the moment the game accepted that the human eye, on its own, was no longer enough.

Legacy & Impact

The Decision Review System, introduced for trial in 2008 and made permanent in 2011, descended directly from the third-umpire concept trialled at Kingsmead. Karl Liebenberg's name appears in every cricket-history book on technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the third umpire?▾
Karl Liebenberg of South Africa, the man who pressed the red light and gave Tendulkar out.
When did third-umpire referrals become universal?▾
Run-out and stumping referrals were universally adopted by 1994. Full DRS — including LBW and edges — followed two decades later.

Tags

#sachin-tendulkar#south-africa#india#durban#1992#iconic-moment#third-umpire#karl-liebenberg#jonty-rhodes#technology

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