Cricket: NZC seek answers over Llong's clanger

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum talks to the umpire during day two of the Third Test match between Australia and New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images.

New Zealand will see Englishman Nigel Llong sooner than they'd like; the controversial official is slated to be one of the umpires in the test series against Sri Lanka.

That starts in Dunedin next week with the second a week later in Hamilton.

However it is understood that appointment is not part of the letters New Zealand Cricket and the New Zealand team management have fired off to the International Cricket Council seeking answers in the wake of Llong's clanger on the second day of the third test against Australia.

Llong blundered in not giving tailender Nathan Lyon out when on 0, to a catch at second slip off spin bowler Mitchell Santner. Lyon went on to make 34 and shared a 74-run stand, the biggest of the match, to pull the hosts back into the match.

Australia won a tense, low scoring game by three wickets to clinch the series 2-0.

''It was excellent, wasn't it?" New Zealand coach Mike Hesson deadpanned today.

''Everybody at the ground saw what unfolded. We've certainly made a representation to the ICC and at present are awaiting an acceptable response."

What would be acceptable? ''I'll let you know when I hear it."

Hesson defended the technology being used - ''I don't think there's anything wrong with the technology at all."

Nor had he spoken to Llong.

''No we don't talk to umpires involved in the game during the game.

''We try and go through the appropriate channels. (Former Sri Lankan batsman) Roshan Mahanama's the match referee and he's the initial point of contact for that, but we've made a representation to the ICC."

It's understood the NZC correspondence relates to protocols in the third officials role in the handling of DRS situations and the procedures that should be followed.

Hesson said that it will never be known how much impact that decision had as there had been a number of subsequent twists and turns in the day and a half that followed.

He acknowledged it wouldn't change the outcome but ''there is a process that needs to be followed and we need to make sure that process was followed correctly."

Yesterday, ICC chief executive Dave Richardson supported Llong as having correctly followed the protocols on the DRS system.

He would not comment on whether the right decision had been made.

NZC could have requested some space before they see Llong again, such was the anger within the New Zealand side at being dudded by the official at a critical point in the test, when New Zealand were firmly on top in a match they needed to win to square the series.

Adelaide was Llong's 33rd test.

A former Kent player, the 46-year-old made his test debut at Dunedin, in New Zealand's test against Bangladesh in 2008. He has been on the international panel since 2006.