Breath easy, traditionalists – the benefit of the doubt remains alive and well in Test cricket despite the introduction of technology.
That was the verdict after the new umpire review system was used on the opening day’s play of the first Test between Australia and the West Indies in Brisbane.
Fears that whizbang gadgets could take over the game were allayed when Australian skipper Ricky Ponting dodged a bullet after a confident LBW shout and Test opener Shane Watson “walked” despite a 50-50 LBW call.
While the spotlight may have shone on the new technology at the umpires’ disposal, the opening morning action showed grey areas still exist in Test cricket.
The new system looked like it would be activated in just the third over when Watson shouldered arms and was given out LBW to Jerome Taylor for a duck.
The ball appeared to have hit Watson high but the opener opted not to question it, albeit begrudgingly.
When TV broadcasters Channel Nine used the new system to run the rule over the LBW decision, ball tracking technology showed it would have clipped the outside of off-stump.
But it deemed it an “umpire’s call”, therefore Watson would have been given out.
Yet the same reasoning was used to give Ponting not out in the 14th over.
The Windies called for a review when Ponting survived a confident LBW appeal on 30.
Using ball tracking technology the system again showed the top of the stumps would have been clipped – but again came up with “umpire’s call”.
Umpire Ian Gould had initially given Ponting not out so the decision stood.
Adding to the drama, the Windies then became coy with one unsuccessful appeal left and refused to review another LBW shout with Ponting on 53 in the second over after lunch.
When Channel Nine again used the system to review the decision, a resounding “OUT” was given – probably because Ponting looked absolutely plumb.
In some consolation for the Windies, Ponting was out caught behind soon after for 55.
ICC cricket operations manager Dave Richardson said the system was introduced to eradicate the “obvious” mistakes in a game.
“We wanted to create a zone of certainty,” Richardson said in Brisbane on Thursday.
But clearly there is still plenty of uncertainty left in Test cricket, no matter how much technology is used.
Under the system, a dismissed batsman or a fielding captain questioning a “not out” verdict can appeal the decision.
The system affords two unsuccessful appeals per side per innings.
Available technology such as ball tacking, snickometers and slow motion replays are consulted by field umpires and the third umpire before making a final decision.
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