Tony Becca
FOR THOSE who have long been calling on the ICC to make more use of technology in its bid for improved umpiring, it may not be long before it happens.
Among the recommendations of the ICC Cricket Committee that will be placed before the ICC Chief Executive Committee on June 24 and 25 at Lord's is one dealing with technology and cricket, and in it is a plea for on-field umpires to be allowed to consult with the television umpire on any aspect of any decision.
The recommendation follows a meeting of the Cricket Committee in Dubai recently, which was chaired by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar. In attendance were the other 12 members of the committee including David Holford of the West Indies, and in making the recommendation, the committee has suggested that it be tried during the Johnnie Walker Super Series in Australia in October.
For those who fear that such a move would erode the power and authority of the umpire, have no fear.
According to the recommendation, the umpires on the field would ask for assistance if they believe they need assistance, the television umpire would only react to that request, and the final decision, after all or any discussion, would remain with the on-field umpire.
LINE DECISIONS
The recommendation also goes on to say that the only exceptions would be line decisions run outs and stumpings, which would be dealt with by the television umpire "in the same manner as at present", and catches, "where the existing process would also be retained."
The current practice for catches is that they are only referred where both umpires are unsighted.
According to reports, catches is one area where television replays are not conclusive.
"We are of the view that the on-field umpires should retain their position of authority in the decision-making process," said David Richardson, ICC general manager, recently, and in the best interest of the game, that is good.
According to Richards, the elite panel of umpires are averaging over 94 per cent correct decisions, and the trial period will help the ICC to understand what "impact a referral system may have on this correct decision percentage as well as the flow of the match."
As the NFL in the United States found out, too much referral can destroy the flow of a match and in a game like cricket the flow of a match, certainly as far as the spectators are concerned, is important.
CORRECT DECISIONS
In this age of professional sport, however, what is important is coming up with the correct decisions. As good as it is, if the percentage of correct decisions can be improved, then every effort should be made to do so, and if takes more use of technology to do so, then that's the way to go.
Although the cricket committee, for whatever reason and even though batsmen have been dismissed by missed no-balls, has recommended that the judgement of no-balls should remain an on-field matter, it also has made another wonderful recommendation to the ICC.
In another move that will improve the game and certainly the respect for umpires, Gavaskar and his disciples have also recommended that in an effort to help on-field umpires judge faint edges, umpires, all of them, should use earpieces in all ICC matches.
