We have discussed the issue of the Umpire Referral System here on Cricket360 which the International Cricket Council has tried out on an experimental basis in Test matches since last year. While some are in favour of the system, such as Courtney Walsh, others such as Giles Clarke, chairman ECB thinks it undermines on field umpires and should be scrapped. Similarly Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh disagree on the Umpire System: whereas Sachin has his doubts about the system, Bhajji is all for it. This cricket special report takes a look at the pros and cons of the umpire referral system.

Sachin has been at the receiving end of three dubious LBW decisions in the recently concluded ODI series in Sri Lanka and should have been the poster boy for the Umpire referral system; however he is not convinced at its efficacy.

"When I was there in Sri Lanka last time, I did not particularly like the Umpires Referral system. There is still an element of uncertainty in the system. I still prefer the hotspot system to identify the contact between the ball and bat. The LBW decisions are not convincing enough as the Hawk Eye gives a 22-yard view which the new referral system does not agree with ... As to whether the ball would have hit the stumps or not," Tendulkar said. (Hot Spot is an infra-red imaging system used in cricket to determine whether the ball has struck the batsman, bat or pad. The technology was developed by the military and works by placing two infrared cameras at either end of the pitch.)

Bhajji on the other hand thinks that the Umpire referral system is good and fair one. "The umpire referral system is good for the game, which is aimed at making the game more fair as both batsmen and bowler can refer any controversial decision for its correction. I think the system should also be there in ODIs. If it would have been implemented in the ODIs then Sachin Tendulkar would have benefited in Sri Lanka," he said. Bhajji thinks that this system benefits not only the players but also the game as a whole.

While it is true that this system will reduce umpire error and reduce the chances of inaccurate LBW decisions almost completely, it is also true that this system is likely to undermine the authority of the umpires on the field. So the system seems like a two edged sword and it will have to be seen how it pans out.

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

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