India v South Africa (15 May 1999)

15 May 1999

India v South Africa

Trevor Chesterfield

ICC Bans South African Bugging Device

HOVE - When the International Cricket Council found an electronic bug in the ear of the South African captain today they sniffed suspiciously, checked Law 42 for unfair play and then came down heavily on the team, having the "illegal device" removed from Hansie Cronje's ear for "bugging" the system.

The ICC rapped South Africa over the knuckles with a stump for bringing foreign devices into the game and worked out a statement which has banned the use of an ear piece device from this year's World Cup.

The pink bit of plastic, not to be found in your paper packet when you collect your yearly Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, fitted neatly into a players' ear, and was exposed for the world to see on the cable TV station, Sky, in England.

"Ah, what's this?" sniffed the sub-continent media. "A South African plot . . ? Next we'll find bugs in the pitch."

Yet the earpiece is about as simple you can find in a shop which deal with hearing devices and is no more dangerous than those you will find being used in other sports, noticeably American football, hockey as well as soccer.

In a typically stiff upper-lip response the ICC issued a strongly worded statement after the India innings at the County Ground today, which confirms that match referee Talit Ali, of Pakistan, stopped Cronje from wearing the electronic device and any other South African player as well. He must have overlooked Allan Donald who wore one for a lengthy period at one stage.

The ICC's statement said "as soon as it was aware of the use of the device the South Africans were asked by the match referee to remove it". It was their argument that as the use of the earpiece had not been cleared with either the match referee or the ICC, and South Africa had not "sought permission to use it" the ICC felt its withdrawal was necessary.

Although issued by the ICC the statement did not carry the name of an ICC official, such as David Richards, the chief executive officer. The ICC statement was also of the arbitrary opinion that the World Cup was "not the venue" to experiment with new technical devices. South Africa's coach Bob Woolmer confirmed that the players had asked for the device to be used after it had become known that it was used in other sports. As there is nothing in the laws to prevent the use of such electronic equipment Woolmer was under the impression he did not need permission to use it.

Known for his innovative ideas Woolmer said the device had been used in South Africa and a couple of the warm up games. As nothing had been said the feeling was that the experiment would continue.

The earpieces were bought by the players and are quite expensive, designed by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, in Pretoria, South Africa. The CSIR have provided the South African team with video support work over the last two seasons, which Woolmer uses to help detect technical faults in a player's batting or bowling action.

Former Test players, including Mike Procter, the man Woolmer replaced as South Africa's coach, gave the innovation their tick of approval in the "yes" box. It is seen as a way to "speed up the game" instead of using the time honoured sending out batting gloves with the 12th or 13th man with messages for batsmen or passing on thoughts to the bowler.

It is expected that the item is to be brought up at an ICC meeting after the World Cup and could be the subject of Cronje's report to the UCB after the event.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield