A simpler way to reduce mistakes from umpires

 

Roar Guru

By dasilva, 15 Feb 2009 dasilva is a Roar Guru

Tagged:

 controversial umpiring decisions, Cricket, third umpire, umpires

• Tweet this
• Email to friend

2 Have your say

In the past, any attempts to expand the role of third umpires for them to adjudicate in all decisions have for the most part failed. The reason is that a lot of decisions had a shade of grey and it takes a very long time to reach accurate decisions for these difficult appeals.

Having multiple appeals being referred to the third umpire disrupt the flow of the game and introduce lengthy stoppages. There was also an issue that the on-field umpire refuses to refer to the third umpire and got it wrong – like what happen in the World XI matches.

Nowadays, there is the introduction of the challenge system. Although this improves decision-making, I do believe it’s insufficient as the number of appeals are capped to three. Also, this raises the issue of players challenging the umpires’ authority which may influence grass-roots cricket where it will be seen as giving consent to youngster to question the umpires’ decisions.

However, I believe there is a system that could bypass these problems.

Firstly, I’ll state that the following suggested system is based on a premise that the most controversial moments in the game are seldom line-ball decisions or mistakes that you need to watch the replay multiple times to find out that the umpire has made an error – like Kasprowicz’s dismissal in the 2005 Ashes. I believe the general public and players can accept mistakes from umpires that come from difficult decisions to adjudicate.

However, what causes needless controversy and cause tensions in a series like last year’s Australia vs India Test series are the blatant mistakes; mistakes that people often see live and just one replay is needed to see the absurdity of it. The obvious type of mistakes by umpires that can damage their credibility to the general public should be avoided.

Therefore, I’ll propose removing the challenge system and referral to the third umpires (excluding run outs and close boundary calls).

Have the on-field umpire adjudicate as normal and making decisions as he see fits. However, the third umpire will review every appeal made and if an incorrect decision is made can contact the on-field umpire and in consultation with the on-field umpire overrule the decision he has made.

To avoid lengthy disruptions to the match, make it a limit where the third umpire only has access to 2-3 replays or has a 30-second time limit to contact the on-field umpire to change the decision that was made.

This alteration will remove the dilemma of players challenging umpires’ authority as only the third umpire can “challenge” the decisions and therefore the umpires will work as a team. The time limit or replay limit will ensure that there will be limited disruption to the match. Although the mistakes made by umpires will not be removed altogether, it will certainly reduce the amount of blatant mistakes and reduce controversies of a match.

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.