A sporting oddity

[JK]

Was thinking the other day about the number of bad decisions made these days (they have always been around, but seems as though it's more frequent these days), and in particular the thought the home side often gets the better rub of the Green ... Even since neutral umpires came into effect to combat against this it's remained a problem and so it lead me to think about the appealing process.

I can't (off the top of my head) think of another sport whereby you have to appeal to the officiator to consider making a decision ... In footy, Basketball, tennis, soccer, hockey etc, an umpire/referee just makes a call/decision if an infringement occurs without being requested to do so.

So whilst appealling is a unique part of the sport of Cricket, if it were removed from the game completely (and I'm NOT suggesting it should be) do you think it could have an affect on the decision making ability of umpires?

[blink]

I think that the same amount of bad decisions get made today as they would have 20 years ago in cricket.

Technology such as stump microphones, more cameras & angles, slow-motion cameras, snicko, Hawk-Eye and now this new hotspot technology have left umpires nowhere to hide. In some cases the umpire has to call it as he sees it, and two example in the last two ODI's Australia has played are - Hussey's caught behind, it did appear not to touch the bat when watched in real-time. I thought Ponting's LBW yesterday was plumb as soon as I saw it, but Hawk-Eye replays suggest it was going over the top.

Maybe the ICC could trial a system similar to those used in tennis. The fielding side could get 2 referrals to the third umpire an innings if the two field umpires call not out on any appeal. I personally wouldn't like to see this though, especially in Test cricket.

Because I am younger, I have been bought up with this technology when watching cricket, so those of you who have been around longer could probably do better at shedding some light on this.

[JK]

You're probably right Bill, just seems as though there are fonder memories within the cricketing fraternity of umpires of bygone era's than there are of those today ... No umpire today really seems to receive Kudo's as a great one, or the unanimously best of the current crop.

[Punk Rooster]

You're probably right Bill, just seems as though there are fonder memories within the cricketing fraternity of umpires of bygone era's than there are of those today ... No umpire today really seems to receive Kudo's as a great one, or the unanimously best of the current crop.

Simon Taufel is highly regarded at an international level

[Adelaide Hawk]

I actually think LESS poor decisions are made these days than in years gone by. We notice the mistakes more because of the scrutiny, but ipso facto because of the scrutiny, umpires have had to improve their performance.

I think a little balance should enter into the umpiring argument. These guys make 100s of decisions each match and only get a couple wrong. Pretty good success rate IMHO. What about those sensational decisions where we all thought they were wrong and yet slow-mo replays showed them to be correct?

Cricket is a game played by human beings and hopefully will be umpired by human beings. Mistakes happen.

[mal]

Technology is embarrasing umpires.
Referring every decision would slow the game too much.

One thing I would get rid of is the boundary third umpire referrals.
A waste of time to worry about the odd run here and there
If a fielders body part touches the rope as he pulls the ball back in
big deal, just play on and not waste 2 minutes reffering it.
Better to refer a caught behind.

[bayman]

Technology is embarrasing umpires.
Referring every decision would slow the game too much.

One thing I would get rid of is the boundary third umpire referrals.
A waste of time to worry about the odd run here and there
If a fielders body part touches the rope as he pulls the ball back in
big deal, just play on and not waste 2 minutes reffering it.
Better to refer a caught behind.

just go back to the fence as the boundary & no problem, plus then we'd see real 4's & 6's

[redandblack]

I would like to see the TV commentators have to give their opinion before the replays and technologies are shown or keep quiet about the decision.

[heater31]

Technology is embarrasing umpires.
Referring every decision would slow the game too much.

One thing I would get rid of is the boundary third umpire referrals.
A waste of time to worry about the odd run here and there
If a fielders body part touches the rope as he pulls the ball back in
big deal, just play on and not waste 2 minutes reffering it.
Better to refer a caught behind.

or how bout the fielder admitting that he touched the rope?

[Adelaide Hawk]

I would like to see the TV commentators have to give their opinion before the replays and technologies are shown or keep quiet about the decision.

This is a VERY good point. I get a little annoyed by the commmentators pontificating over umpiring decisions AFTER they have had the benefit of watching 7 replays from 5 different angles. The umpire sees it once. Although, having said that, Tony Greig watches all the replays and STILL gets it wrong!!!!

[FlyingHigh]

Excellent points R&B and Bayman.

Interesting question CP. Might put less pressure on the umpires, but then again they might feel the need to get involved in the game like the AFL umpires do, which would be worse. Also, there seemed a number of LBW's in the Tests that were close but there were no appeals.

[mighty_tiger_79]

I would like to see the TV commentators have to give their opinion before the replays and technologies are shown or keep quiet about the decision.

This is a VERY good point. I get a little annoyed by the commmentators pontificating over umpiring decisions AFTER they have had the benefit of watching 7 replays from 5 different angles. The umpire sees it once. Although, having said that, Tony Greig watches all the replays and STILL gets it wrong!!!!

didnt Tony GREIG make an absolute idiot of himself with the non run out of Hussey by Vettori!!!!!!! trying to convince himself and everybody else the ball had hit the stumps!!!!!

[scoob]

I would like to see the TV commentators have to give their opinion before the replays and technologies are shown or keep quiet about the decision.

This is a VERY good point. I get a little annoyed by the commmentators pontificating over umpiring decisions AFTER they have had the benefit of watching 7 replays from 5 different angles. The umpire sees it once. Although, having said that, Tony Greig watches all the replays and STILL gets it wrong!!!!

didnt Tony GREIG make an absolute idiot of himself with the non run out of Hussey by Vettori!!!!!!! trying to convince himself and everybody else the ball had hit the stumps!!!!!

Tony Greig...WADH

[another grub]

He definatly made a fool of himself..... then tried to cover up saying he didnt have control..... rediculous statement ........ he should have been sacked after that!!!!!!!!!!! WADH

[redandblack]

Usual Tony Grieg commentary...

"YES, That's out, that's out.......definitely hitting middle stump....absolutely plumb...."

Replay is shown, ball missing leg stump comfortably.

Yes, yes, definitely hitting middle stump....... etc, etc..