Elmo Rodrigopulle on Umpiring (30 April 1998)

Thursday 30, April 1998

When the teams suffered inconsistent umpiring

Comment by Elmo Rodrigopulle

Not wanting to be accused of bias where the Sri Lankan cricketers are concerned I must state that the inconsistent umpiring bee not only stung the Sri Lankans but left its sting on the Pakistanis as well as the home team.

But there was no doubt that the team to suffer most were the hapless Sri Lankans. One man who suffered most but did not want to complain and stomached it all like the true leader and sportsman that he is was 'Captain Cool' Arjuna Ranatunga.

I am certain at the way things were going against him, he would be excused if he had harboured thoughts of drawing stumps and coming back. Many a time a promising innings from him was cut short or nipped before it could blossom.

There were instances where players of all three teams who were penalised, stood their ground and looked to the high heavens for justice.

We are not trying to whip the umpires for what they did. We admit that umpiring is thankless job and that not very many will want to stand. But while appreciating the 'umps' for fearlessly continuing, had they been a bit more alert and concentrated more, they would not have committed such basic mistakes.

The umpires must first and foremost remember that the job they are doing is a sacred one. A decision either way could make or break the future of a promising cricketer and the chances of his team.

It would be heartbreaking for a batsman to be given out before opening his account or when his innings is gathering momentum. In the heat of the moment the batsman is sure to stand his ground and show his surprise if not his displeasure.

But what happens after that could easily be included in a comic strip. The batsman victimised is accused of dissent and he is either given a suspended sentence or fined.

What is funny in this instance is that the victim is unjustly made the accused and is made to suffer which is a blotch in his career. It is time where rules are framed to fine or sentence the offending umpire too.

As it stands the teams are asked to write their reports on what they thought of the umpiring and submit it to the International Cricket Council.

From what is on show not very many captains and teams would have submitted good reports on the umpires. But what is annoying must be the refusal of the lords at Lord's to act on the reports submitted, as the offending umpires continue to stand.

Captains and teams could well be asking themselves: What is the purpose in sending these reports if no action is taken. It is time that those at cricket's headquarters woke up from their slumber and did something about this situation.

To postpone action and continue their slumber would mean to allow the game and the umpire-player relationship to further deteriorate.

It is believed that when reports are made on umpires, marks are added or subtracted. But for too long has this game of mathematics by the lords at Lord's gone on and from what we gather the ICC is beginning to lose its credibility.

It is time now for them to act. And act they must because this is the demand of the players and the teams.

It is also sickening to note that many of the umpires are seeking refuge in the third umpire for decisions they could well give on their own without being assisted.

This could only mean that the umpires are ageing or that their sight is failing.

One recalls the laughter that was evoked during a one-day encounter between Sri Lanka and India where an umpire raised his finger to rule a batsman out and next moment without straightening his finger, fingered his hat. This comedy was re-enacted in a recent Sharjah tournament.

Umpires should not be allowed to make a mockery of the game.

From the standpoint of the player who is "victimised" both by the umpire and the match referee wouldn't it be better if the referee looks into the TV replay and see whether the batsman was justified in showing dissent. If the umpire's decision was probably incorrect then the player should not be penalised!

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)