G Longley: Aldridge wants bigger role for replays (14 Aug 1998)

14 August 1998

Aldridge wants bigger role for cricket replays

by Geoff Longley

Any technology which helps umpires improve decision making is worth implementing, believes New Zealand Cricket's umpires manager Brian Aldridge.

Aldridge, of Christchurch, was commenting after the recent controversy surrounding the England-South Africa test series which was soured by several decisions and led to a call for greater use of technology.

"Technology has been a great aid in run-outs, stumpings, and hit-wicket decisions and if they can make it work for things such as caught behinds and lbws then why say no?

"In this age there is a lot more cricket being played and money at stake.

"I'm sure the umpires want the information available to them to make a better decision than those watching television in their lounge."

However, Aldridge cautioned about getting too carried away with new technology.

"Whether the delays are acceptable to the spectators at the ground while things are being worked out is debatable ...

"Perhaps we need more of the big replay screens at the ground."

Aldridge, a former test umpire who stood on the world panel, said it had still to be remembered that umpires had the best view of a decision with the cameras not in exactly the same line.

"Noises can sometimes sound a bit different in real life compared to coming through a microphone.

"And the camera is two-dimensional. Things like body language can be taken into account in an umpire's decision-making."

Aldridge said some work on video systems was being done at Massey University.

Another issue is the number of umpires on the international panel. At present there are 20 which some have criticised as too many.

Aldridge said the ICC had indicated it has a ranking system and uses the top 10 umpires more often than the next 10.

New Zealand's top-ranked umpire Steve Dunne was involved in one of the incidents during the fourth test when he gave England opener Mike Atherton not out to a confident caught behind appeal off Allan Donald. Atherton went on to score a match-winning unbeaten 98 which helped inspire England to its 2-1 series success.

"The umpires were under an enormous amount of pressure from both teams," Aldridge said.

"Steve does umpire well under pressure and gives it as he sees it but he's also only human."

Meanwhile, NZC has reappointed an unchanged international umpiring panel for the 1998-99 season. The six umpires will officiate in the international matches involving India and South Africa, and will stand in the Shell Conference competition.

Doug Cowie of Auckland and Dunedin's Dunne remain New Zealand's representatives on the ICC test panel.

The A panel, to control Shell Trophy and Cup games, Cricket Max, and women's national league matches, is made up of 10 umpires while the B, or reserve panel, comprises 15 umpires. That is an increase of three from last season, to cover an increased workload next summer.

Among the five new umpires on that panel is former test official Steve Woodward. Woodward, of Wellington, officiated in 24 tests and is returning after six years absence.

International: Steve Dunne (Otago), Evan Watkin (Wellington), Doug Cowie (Auckland), Brent Bowden (Auckland), Chris King (Otago), David Quested (Canterbury).

A panel: Dunne, Watkin, Cowie, Bowden, King, Quested, Robert Anderson (Central Districts), Bill Sommer (Wellington), Peter Williams (Canterbury), Tony Hill (Northern Districts).

B panel: Barry Frost, Ness Khan, Peter Wright (all Auckland), Malcolm McLean, Peter Shirley (Northern Districts), Peter Garland, Robert Pitcairn (Central Districts), Peter Chapman, Reg Alexander, Steve Woodward (Wellington), Jeremy Busby, Grant Robinson, Gary Baxter (Canterbury), Ross Murdoch, Graeme Stewart (Otago).

Source :: The Canterbury Press (https://www.press.co.nz/)