KEY POINTS:
Contrary to popular opinion, the referral system trialled in New Zealand was an outrageous success. It did exactly what it was supposed to do: it exposed the pros and cons of using technology to assist umpires.
The key now is to modify the rules so the pros outweigh
the cons. In other words, do not throw the baby out with the bath water just because a few imperfections were exposed.
The television umpire must be exposed to all the technology the viewer has at home.
That would avoid the farcical situation where everybody watching on TV knew that Brendon McCullum had not hit the ball, because hot spot and snicko told us, whereas Mark Benson was reduced to using frame-by-frame video.
Absolutely ridiculous.
McCullum's 'non'-dismissal also raised another important flaw that needs modifying. After McCullum was erroneously given out by onfield umpire Rudi Koertzen and he referred it, the onus was on Benson to prove that Koertzen was wrong. That's plain silly. As soon as a decision is referred, the television umpire should revert to that guiding principle that has served cricket well forever: the batsman receives the benefit of the doubt.
Of course, the doubt would be absolutely minimal, either way, if he had access to all available technology.
There is a school of thought that the umpires should be charged with making all referrals and maybe this is worth trialling, but there seems little wrong with the players challenging when they believe they have been wronged.
Dan Vettori was absolutely right when he said that the three challenges gave too much leeway to the bowling team; enabling them to challenge on 50-50 leg befores was never the intention of the system. One unsuccessful referral per fielding innings would put paid to that, ensuring teams only challenged for those decisions that wreck a match; the obvious nick or bat-pad catch that went undetected, not the lbw that might have been clipping leg stump.
* * *
PHOTO COMPETITION
The Herald on Sunday, in conjunction with the Beige Brigade, have a bumper prize pack to give away to the reader who has taken the best photo while at the cricket this season.
The photo need not be game-related but has to be taken from inside a ground. It can involve partial nudity but should avoid dangly bits.
The prize pack will include some beige clothing, a stubbie-cooler, a helmet that does not meet safety requirements and a groin protector worn by a senior club cricketer of our choosing. Best of all, good pics will be run on www.beigebrigade.co.nz and great ones will be run here.
Email entries to BeigeHQ@beigebrigade.co.nz