Talking Cricket: Too much technology, not enough responsibility (7 July 1999)

7 July 1999

Talking Cricket: Too much technology, not enough responsibility

Dickie Bird

I Never thought, when Barrie Meyer and I used light meters for the first time during the third Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's in 1978 that it would spark such a flood of umpiring aids, particularly of the electronic kind.

The men in the middle can now call upon the third umpire and his box of tricks to help them adjudicate on six decisions: the close run-out, the close stumping, hit wicket, the low catch close to the ground, the boundary six and the boundary four.

What worries me is the thought that all this could undermine the confidence of umpires in making their own decisions. Too much authority - responsibility, too, if you like - is being taken away from them.

Now I see that television are to experiment with yet another electronic aid - the 'snickometer' - to help with caught behind decisions. For the moment it is for the enlightenment and entertainment of viewers only, but it would not surprise me to find it being introduced for official third umpire use before long.

There are also occasions when technology can be undermined by human error, as happened during a one-dayer in Pakistan, when South Africa were the visitors. They were getting into a position to win when a run-out appeal was referred to the third umpire.

The poor man pressed the wrong button and the light relaying his decision to those on the field showed David Richardson to be out, when, in fact, he had made his ground.

South Africa and Pakistan also featured prominently in the recent World Cup, and at a time when there is so much criticism of cricket I think it is appropriate that the England and Wales Cricket Board and the organisers should be congratulated on the outstanding success of the competition.

There were some magnificent matches, a marvellous atmosphere at all the grounds, the games were played in a wonderful spirit and the whole thing was very well organised.

Now attention is focused on the Test series with New Zealand, and again I feel we should applaud the selectors for the way they went about choosing the squad for the opening encounter at Edgbaston. It looks as though they are going to give youth a chance, and I am all for that.

Chris Silverwood (Yorkshire), Alex Tudor (Surrey), Chris Read (Nottinghamshire) and Aftab Habib (Leicestershire) were four very good selections, and I hope the selectors will continue to have faith in their own judgment. Stick by the youngsters. Leave them to develop. This is a policy which has brought success through the years for Australia, South Africa, Pakistan and the West Indies.

There are several other good young players waiting in the wings for an opportunity: Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire), Darren Maddy (Leicestershire), Graham Swann (Northamptonshire) and another Yorkie, Gavin Hamilton. I would like to have seen Hamilton drafted into the squad for the first Test, because I believe someone like him provides a better balance to the team as a whole. However, his time will come.

There is a case to be made for experience in any side, and I am delighted that Phil Tufnell and Andy Caddick have been recalled to the Test squad. Tuffers may be 33, but I believe slow left-arm spinners like him do not reach their peak until their thirties. Whatever his failings off the pitch he is a matchwinner on it. He is, without a shadow of doubt, the best spin bowler in the country.

Nasser Hussain was my choice as captain, and I believe he will do a good job, given time. He is a strong character, reads the game well, is very knowledgeable, and, above all, he is a winner.

We have to hope that the weather is kind, with little need to call on those meters which first saw the light of day in 1978. I remember one Test between England and Australia at Old Trafford when we all trooped off the field, and one Lancashire member, who appeared to have had just a little bit too much liquid refreshment, shouted: "You're here again Bird, bringing them off as usual. Sun's shining; light's perfect. What's the problem?"

"No problem at all, sir," I replied. "It's lunch."

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph