Cricket: Test umpiring aids unlikely until NZ inspires sponsors

Tim Southee of the Black Caps. Photo / Getty Images

If the New Zealand team want more accuracy in test match umpiring decisions, they need to become more marketable.

That's the reality after both openers were dismissed in the second innings of the second test against Pakistan via the decision review system. Without the aid of infrared-imaging system Hot Spot or the newly International Cricket Council-approved "Real-Time Snicko" audio technology, the decisions were left to the eyes rather than the ears of television umpire Rod Tucker to adjudicate.

The Pakistan Cricket Board and host broadcaster Ten Sports have not provided either tool for this series because they're too expensive. Neither party can recoup the costs of installation because New Zealand, despite their successes of the past year, are still not a team which inspires sponsors to invest, although the same situation applied for the Australia series last month.

Tom Latham swept a Yasir Shah delivery which lobbed to Asad Shafiq at leg slip. On-field umpire Ranmore Martinesz gave it out on the basis it hit glove. Latham requested a review, presumably because he believed the ball only hit his forearm. The replay was inconclusive but, because a decision had been made in Pakistan's favour, Martinesz was given the benefit of the doubt rather than the batsman; a DRS quirk.

Pakistan's review of Brendon McCullum's lbw to Zulfiqar Babar for 45 was the first upheld decision in the match. To untrained eyes, as well as those of umpire Paul Reiffel, it looked like it hit bat first. The slow-mo disagreed, and the ball-tracker did the rest.

On both occasions, added technology might have told a different story to the pictures being advance freeze framed by Tucker. It's an unenviable position as the crowd waits for justice to be served.

"Brendon showed the way a lot of batsmen have been getting out to left arm spin and leg spin," said Jimmy Neesham. "The review system punishes you for using the front pad. Tom's review was a wee bit indecisive either way."

"The way it has gone in this series, without things like Snickometer and Hot Spot it is always going to be tough," said Tim Southee. "It is the same for both teams. You move on and you can't dwell on what has happened or what is going to happen."

It's understandable the ICC would be reluctant to intervene because test-loving countries like Australia and England can fund their own devices, whereas India remains adverse to technological involvement.

The DRS might be handicapped in this series but television umpires' reluctance to overturn the decisions by their on-field counterparts can occur even when the Hot Spot is available.

Two examples came during last year's Ashes in England when Usman Khawaja and Kevin Pietersen were given out caught behind, despite no overwhelming evidence suggesting bat hit ball.