Cricket: S Africans step up pace over umpires

Television and third umpire to be given more power after the summer series controversies. Iain Fletcher reports

SOUTH AFRICA, who led the way in the use of television cameras to help umpires, are about to do so again. The ruling authority of the game in the country, the United Cricket Board of South Africa, voted unanimously last Wednesday to extend the responsibilities of the third umpire during the coming domestic season. If it proves successful, firm proposals will be put to the International Cricket Conference next June.

Raymond White, the UCB president, said: "The main reason we want to do this is that we are concerned at the quality of the umpiring at Test level and referring in particular to the recent series in the UK where it was prejudiced against our team."

This news comes out in the week that the president of the ICC, Jagmohan Dalmiya appeared at loggerheads with his chief executive, David Richards. On Wednesday, Dalmiya was reported to have said that technology could be used to help adjudicate bat-pad decisions within months, a claim that was withdrawn after Richards stated: "There's been no change in the level of use of technology and we have no plans to increase it now."

Such denial may be short-lived, though if the South African experiment works. The exact parameters for this winter have yet to be finalised but a special committee has been formed to work out the extra responsibilities.

White said: "There is no reason for us to eliminate any form of dismissal, although with lbws it might be difficult because it is two-dimensional, but for instance an umpire could check with the third umpire if the ball had hit the bat or if it may have been a bit high. Whatever, we will debate every angle because there's no point just speculating, let's just get on and do it and find out what works and what doesn't."

The experiment could also involve the touring West Indian side after a discussion between Bacher and the West Indies manager Clive Lloyd. Bacher said: "He expressed strong support for using modern technology to assist the umpires in making correct decisions on the field of play."

Steve Camacho, the chief executive of the West Indian Cricket Board, confirmed this week that the South Africans have requested the new format be used in televised touring games against the provincial sides. "The South African board has sent us some proposals for the coming tour," he said, "And in principle we are prepared to go along and experiment but how far yet I can't say until we receive the exact proposals.

"I'm aware of he problem concerning umpires," Camacho continued. "But as far as the West Indies Board is concerned anything that will improve the game we are prepared to try, but importantly it has to improve the whole framework of the game."

Again, as in 1992 when they first introduced the TV replay for line decisions, it is the South Africans who are forcing the pace of change. Suffering numerous dubious decisions in the series against England could account for part of this, but it is also down to the improvement of the technology.

Much university research has been undertaken in South Africa to make the technology usable but the same has been going on in Australia and, interestingly, while they are not opposed to an increased role for the third umpire, they are not actively pursuing it either. Tony Crafter, national umpire manager of the Australian Cricket Board stood in 33 Test matches and has keenly watched recent developments concerning umpires.

"There has certainly been a lot of reaction to the events of the England- South Africa series and the university reports from Africa on the technology available but at the moment we don't really know what the actual technology can do," he explained. "The ACB has not discussed the issue at any stage but we are accepting proposals from organisations in Australia on technology.

"We have to do that but there are so many questions to be addressed. How accurate is it? How long will it take to get a decision. Should it be used for lbws and should we take away the human element of the game, which is so important? There is certainly no move to use more technology over here at the moment, but it can't be discounted in the future."

So the future role of technology could be decided by the results of this winter's experiment in South Africa, which undoubtedly will be closely analysed by all countries.

"We aren't saying we're right," White explained. "But we would rather try it and drop it as unsuccessful, or tackle the problems because we don't see any better way forward for the umpires. In one year's time we will all know a lot more and then we can make better decisions."