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| Edited By: G Krishnan |Source: DNA |Updated: Jun 10, 2019, 06:55 AM IST
Today's umpires are under so much scrutiny that even the best make blatant mistakes. The fact that they are humans and hence prone to err seems to be forgotten. It is how much one keeps his mistakes to the minimum and is consistent with his right decisions that makes a good umpire.
Despite the use of technology to get correct decisions, umpires are often found to be incompetent. Like New Zealander Chris Gaffaney was on Thursday in the Australia vs West Indies match in Nottingham.
An elite panel umpire, 43-year-old Gaffaney made one mistake too many in successive overs. His failure to notice a big Mitchell Starc No Ball just the delivery before West Indies opener Chris Gayle was dismissed LBW has made the Kiwi umpire look like a villain. One West Indies supporter went on record saying the West Indies competed against 13 — 11 Australians and 2 umpires.
Gaffaney had a bad game, no doubt. Twice in three deliveries he adjudged Gayle out only for the Universe Boss to take DRS successfully each time.
Gaffaney was under so much pressure that in the next Starc over, he did not notice a big No Ball. And, off the next delivery, he adjudicated Gayle out leg before, which DRS supported him as 'Umpire's Call'.
Had the previous ball been given a No Ball, the delivery that actually consumed Gayle would have been a Free Hit, and hence he could not have been out.
It has become a common practice for on-field umpires to check for a No Ball after a batsman has been dismissed, only to be on the safer side. But such glaring errors of failing to spot No Balls in normal circumstances are left as they are.
And, this menace is only growing in number by the day despite the advanced use of technology.
Remember India's lone ICC elite panel umpire S Ravi missing a big No Ball off Mumbai Indians' Lasith Malinga in the last ball of the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in this year's IPL? Failing to notice the No Ball cost RCB the match.
The playing conditions only allow the TV umpire to relay to the on-field umpire only when asked. The rules do not allow the TV umpire to inform the on-field umpire on his own of such blatant mistakes.
When technology is available, why not use it to the optimum? The ICC should alter the playing conditions to allow the TV umpire to send a message across to his on-field colleague if a No Ball is missed.
The problem umpires commonly face is that sometimes the bowlers' back foot — largely with left-armers going over the wicket and close to the stumps — obstruct their view of front foot landing and hence miss out on No Balls. Fair enough. That's where the third umpire should be given the power to inform his on-field colleague over the two-way radio and quickly call a No Ball.
It should not cause any delay to the game if done properly. And, the fielding side should not be allowed to protest the decision as it has come from the third umpire after seeing the replay.
Usually, the third umpire prompts his colleagues in the middle about boundary decisions or quietly tells him to watch for No Balls if the bowler is repeatedly going too close and if they are missed. This is just to alert the umpire.
Former Australian batsman and now television expert Dean Jones has been advocating the introduction of a third on-field umpire only to check No Balls since last year's Karnataka Premier League. Thursday's incident only strengthened his case.
Whether to have a 16th person on the field of play is for the ICC to ponder over but certainly time has come to empower the third umpire to inform the on-field official of the missed No Ball even without being asked.
Sooner done, the better. For, Thursday's instance was not the first time, nor would it be the last time. These errors will happen and continue to expose umpires. It is time to put an end to this before a World Cup is won or lost just for No Ball blunders.
