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| Sunday, 22 September 2002 |
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TV replays and referrals could shorten span of Test matches by Pelham Juriansz Hitherto the word "referrals" was only referred to when one was sitting for the OL's or AL's, and one was in doubt as to a particular result in an exam paper, but now there are TV referrals for umpiring decisions. Something new that crept into the ICC Champions trophy was the option for the umpire out in the middle to refer a particular decision to the third umpire if he was in doubt. Shoaib Malik was the first victim of such a decision when umpire Darrel Harper referred the lbw appeal against him off the bowling of Chaminda Vaas at the Premadasa Stadium in the opening game of the Champions trophy (ICC mini World Cup) between hosts Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Rudi Koertzen was the third umpire on that occasion and indicated to umpire Darrel Harper that the ball had pitched in line with the stumps and Malik was ruled out. Of course, yet for all a question of consistency could arise in referring such decisions. This is one of the misdemeanours of umpiring. Inconsistency. An umpire has, as far as possible to be consistent. What is good for the goose is good for the gander. This, I understand is the first occasion that the extended use of technology has been used to support 'on field' decisions. Each of the eight umpires at the ICC championship will wear a specially designed "microphone suit", containing the audio and radio equipment to put them in constant touch with the third umpire. The areas that the two umpires on the field could consult with the third umpire are as follows: 1) For the lbw to see if the ball pitched outside the leg stump or on the "mat" and also if the height of the ball is Ok in order for it to hit the stumps. 2)Run outs can be referred to the third umpire but the only difference will be that the final decision will be given by the on field umpires. 3)The other vital decision will be whether to find out if the ball touched the bat or any part of clothing or person in the case of a bat/pad catch or a caught behind appeal. Another area that the on field umpires could use to their advantage is in the case of a "bump catch" to see if the ball has hit the ground or not when a fielder claims a catch. An on field umpire can also find out if the ball actually hit the bat on the way to the wicket keeper in caught behind catches. A bad example of where this went against the fielding side was seen when there was an appeal for a caught behind when Brian Lara was batting against Kenya and for all intents and purposes it seemed that Lara had nicked it to the 'keeper but when the umpire referred it to the third umpire Asoka de Silva he ruled in favour of the batsman, quite to the consternation of the fielders and the surprise of the commentators as well. So it goes to show that the third umpire and technology isn't perfect and camera, or the interpretation of it "does lie". Some time ago I remember there was an appeal against Anil Kumble for a run out and it was referred to the third umpire and Kumble was ruled out because it seemed that Kumble's bat was in the air whereas it was on the ground. Sri Lanka's ICC umpire Asoka de Silva in conversation with the "Sunday Observer" said that with the introduction of this new system of "referrals" the Test matches could be over in two days and even batsman, who were hitherto given the benefit of the doubt in one day matches as well will not receive much of a benefit and there would be shorter innings by them. Another anomaly that occurred was during the Sri Lanka-Holland game when the Dutch skipper Roland Lefebvre appealed for an lbw against Sri Lanka's Mahela Jayewardene and umpire Dave Orchard gave him out and then had a change of mind and referred the decision to the third umpire Russel Tiffin who ruled him not out. According to the commentators this was the first time that an umpire had reversed his decision. At the Press conference with the Pakistan team skipper Waqar Younis welcomed the idea of "referrals" but said that it would further slow the game as every decision that is doubtful would be "referred" and this will cause a lot of time wastage and as it is the teams with an abundance of fast bowlers find it difficult to finish in time. Will the concept of "referrals" last? Over to the third umpire for his decision! |
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