The head of the world’s cricket unions has called on the umpiring referral system to be implemented in all Test series to create parity and avoid confusion.
Former Australia spinner Tim May, the chief executive of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA), has called on the International Cricket Council (ICC) to make the system compulsory.
May was part of the ICC cricket committee that in May recommended the system, where umpires can refer to video technology on close decisions and players can challenge decisions, be implemented in all Test series.
But the ICC’s governing body is yet to do, meaning the referral system is in place in some series but not others.
In Australia’s recent series against Pakistan the system was not in place because the onus was on Pakistan, who hosted the series in England, to pay for the technology.
The system will not be in place in Australia’s next series either, as India does not want it.
May said FICA believed the referral system had been successful in eradicating blatantly wrong decisions, and called for it to be implemented across the world for the sake of consistency.
“Test cricket must be played on a consistent basis from country to country and from series to series,” May said.
“It is unfair and confusing to players, spectators, broadcasters, sponsors and the fans watching at home on television, if one series is played under the UDRS (umpire decision review system) and the next series without.
“We must also put ourselves in the shoes of the umpires – it must be incredibly difficult for them to umpire from series to series without any continuity of the UDRS.
“We do understand that some countries may have some funding issues with providing the minimum, and we have a level of understanding with such concerns, but FICA do not understand why the ICC has given the visiting team the discretion to reject the technology that the home board will provide.
“It essentially says that countries can do what they like … the ICC needs to adopt a firm policy – it’s either applicable in all Tests or none.”
May’s call follows those of Australia captain Ricky Ponting, Sri Lanka counterpart Kumar Sangakkara and retired umpire Rudi Koertzen for the system to be implemented in all series.
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