The umpire strikes out
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
PA Photos
Who would possibly want to be a cricket umpire these days? If you're covered by the game's new provisions you invite humiliation from a multi-million dollar video replay machine; if you operate under the old rules you leave yourself open to widespread public ridicule, writes Richard Boock in the Sunday Star Times.
It doesn't take much head- scratching to realise that, if cricket chiefs really want to reintroduce an element of credibility to officiating, it would make much more sense to simply allow the bowlers' end umpires to call for video assistance whenever they felt the need. In an environment in which the benefit of the doubt has now been replaced by a forensic audit, the umpires at least deserve the opportunity to refer the close-calls upstairs themselves. Forcing them to guess first is simply perverse.
The review system is also part of Sideline Slogger Paul Holden's 10 frustrations from Dunedin.
It is there to stop cheating and incompetence, not transform the umpires into a jury of three. My view is that it shouldn’t be used in relation to LBW decisions where there is no bat involved, as there is no certainty around where the ball will end up. The umpire in the middle should be left to make these calls with no further correspondence entered into. The gogglebox should only be called upon around dodgy catches, feathery nicks to the keeper and bat-pad howlers.
Cricket has been rich in human drama and controversy. It is integral to the appeal of the sport. But the invasion of technology has the potential to strip the sport of its colour and reduce the umpire's role to that of a ventriloquist's dummy, writes Adrian Seconi in the Otago Daily Times.
Remember folks, it's only a trial. Knickers can be untwisted, at least for the moment, writes David Leggat in the New Zealand Herald.
The umpiring referral system is having its second tryout during New Zealand's series against the West Indies. The evidence so far? Yes, it has promise, certainly it adds a measure of theatre and undoubtedly it helps get decisions right. But without question, rough edges need smoothing off.
Also in the New Zealand Herald, read Chris Rattue's take on the ground staff using kitty litter to dry the University Oval in Dunedin.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo