Cricket: Warne backs video technology for lbws

Australian cricketer Shane Warne has called for the introduction of video technology to be used in contentious leg before wicket decisions.

Frustrated by the amount of leg before wicket appeals he has had turned down this Ashes series, Warne said it was time LBW shouts were referred to the third umpire.

Test cricket's leading wicket-taker said close appeals should be referred to the third umpire to determine whether the ball pitched outside leg stump and whether it hit bat first.

Australia were on the end of three bad leg before decisions in the fourth test loss at Trent Bridge, two (Ricky Ponting and Damien Martyn) to inside edges in the first innings and one (Simon Katich in the second) to a delivery that pitched outside leg stump.

Warne said it was time umpires were given some help from a third umpire with access to a television replay.

"The issue of technology in umpiring is often raised and over recent times the job has become so difficult that I believe it should be considered," he said today.

"This is not taking responsibility from the umpires; just giving them some help.

"There is so much at stake these days and a career can be on the line over a fraction of an inch when a ball comes down at 90 miles per hour."

Warne said television replays did not aid contentious catch decisions, but would be of benefit in LBW appeals.

"Technology could come in for leg before decisions to check whether the ball has pitched outside leg stump and whether the ball was nicked on to the pad," he wrote in Britain's The Times newspaper.

"That's where I would draw the line."

As Australia, 1-2 down, prepare for the fifth and final test next week at The Oval, Warne said he would not tolerate anything less than a fighting effort from his under-performing teammates.

"There is no disgrace in being outplayed as long as you have given it your best shot and every ounce of fight you have," he said.

"But if we lose the Ashes without performing as well as we possibly can, then it would be very disappointing.

"We need to think in those blunt terms because we are getting down to the wire. Time is running out."

Warne has enjoyed the chance to freshen up between the fourth and fifth tests, as he felt "pretty sore" given his workload in the series.

- AAP