Giles Clarke, who was nominated as The English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman for a second successive term has been reported in the cricket news as criticising the Umpire Referral System and saying that this system needs to be scrapped from international cricket.  He said that instead of the current ICC referral system in which players appeal against the umpire’s decision, the system used during the Stanford T20 series where the third umpire intervened on his own in case of doubt, should be tried out. Clarke is of the opinion that this system undermines the authority of the on field umpires and was anxious that it not be used for the Ashes later this year.

On the other hand, legendary West Indian bowler Courtney Walsh has come out in support of the system saying “It’s good because it gives the spectators an insight, it keeps the officials on their toes and there is a chance to correct a mistake before it’s too late, so I think the umpires are happy with it, the players are happy with it and the spectators seem to be happy with it.” This is perhaps due to the fact that the system was successfully implemented in favour of West Indian Ramnaresh Sarwan recently.

So what is the Umpire referral system; Cricket360 takes a closer look:

The Umpire Referral System was put to use first 8 months ago but is still not implemented full time. It is an arrangement that allows the sides to appeal to change a decision perceived to have been incorrect. Each side is apportioned two unsuccessful each (it used to be three each, but was recently reduced to two per side).

Upon an appeal being made, the on-field umpire consults with the third umpire, who reviews available television coverage of the incident before relaying fact-based information back to his colleague. The on-field umpire then delivers his decision either by raising his finger to indicate “out” or by crossing his hands in a horizontal position side to side in front and above his waist three times — as per a “safe” decision by an official in baseball. The umpire can make his decision based on technical aids such as slow motion replays and the Hawk-eye up to point of impact with pads.

For the most part, opinions about this system have been favourable, so Cricket360.com will be watching to see if the ECB gets its way in getting the ICC to scrap it.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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