World Cup banks on hi-tech to fix umpiring howlers

Jamie Siddons

MUMBAI, (Reuters) – Fourteen captains will lead their  teams into the World Cup with the governing body’s assurance  that they are more protected against umpiring howlers than any  of their predecessors.
The Decision Review System (DRS) makes its World Cup debut  even though the Indian board, the world’s richest and most  influential national cricket body, reckons the technology is far  from foolproof, a view shared by cricketers such as batting  greats Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting.
According to statistics from the International Cricket  Council (ICC), the technology that allows players to challenge  the on-field umpires’ decision through a review system, improves  correct decision-making to over 97 percent from 92 percent.

Jamie Siddons
Jamie Siddons

The global governing body believes it is good enough for the  technology’s use in a stage as big as the World Cup.
“There was a strong feeling that the World Cup, being the  World Cup, we would not want an error to cause a result that  should not have been,” ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat told  Reuters.
“It was quite clear among the vast majority (of the ICC)  that we should use the DRS in the World Cup to avoid a clear  error.”
Lorgat does not call it foolproof either.
“We can only use what is available currently,” he said.
“In fact, I think cricket should be credited or acknowledged  for the lead it’s taken in introducing quite sophisticated  technology to aid the umpires’ decision making.”
The governing body took the first major step towards  embracing technology in 1992 when it introduced the third  umpire, who uses television footage to aid his on-field  colleagues in making close decisions.
While tennis introduced instant replays in 2006, FIFA is  still considering using it in soccer in the form of a goal-line  electronic eye.
But the introduction of technology has not been without  hitches.
“We don’t accept this technology. We are not going to use it  in any bilateral series,” BCCI secretary N. Srinivasan told  Reuters in January.
“The World Cup is an ICC event and if ICC decided to use it,  they obviously can.”
Ponting too has expressed doubts about the accuracy of the  system.
“I do get a little bit annoyed with it because I think it’s  a blight on the game, trusting in technology that’s not good  enough to show them,” a fuming Ponting said during the Ashes  after a review for a catch gave the benefit of doubt to the  batsman.
It is not just cricket greats who have their problems with  supposedly high-tech solutions to umpiring.
Former tennis world number one Roger Federer has used  instant replays but has always been critical of it.
“I have a very strong opinion about it. I’m absolutely  against it,” said Federer, who believes the vast amounts of  money invested in the technology can be better spent elsewhere.
The acceptance of DRS, however, seems to be growing  following its Ashes debut last year.
During the World Cup, which gets underway on Saturday, each  team will have two unsuccessful chances to overturn the on-field  umpires’ decision.
Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons welcomed the introduction of  the technology.
“The review system is fantastic. I think we have always  complained that we get the rough end of the deal,” he told  Reuters.
Former fast bowler and Pakistan coach Waqar Younis said it  would give the teams more protection against bad umpiring  decisions.
“I mean once you get into the quarter-final you don’t want  any bad decision to really put teams out of the tournament. It’s  not a good way to go,” Waqar said.