JOIN USThe former ICC Umpire of the Year for five years on the trot has had a horror run in India, one very obvious error in Hyderabad when he wrongly adjudged Kane Williamson out compounded by a series of mistakes in the third Test here.
The Australian made an unprecedented three mistakes during New Zealand’s second innings, ruling Gareth Hopkins and Ross Taylor not out, and Martin Guptill out, when replays conclusively showed the decisions should have been the other way round. Throw in Nigel Llong’s shocker to send Taylor packing, and it’s not difficult to see why Mahendra Singh Dhoni again called on the umpires to minimise their errors.
“Umpiring errors don’t have much of an impact on wickets like these where there is something for the bowlers. But on flat tracks, where there is nothing for the bowlers, it becomes difficult to get batsmen out. If more than two or three mistakes happen in one innings, then you end up bowling 40 or 50 overs more than what you should have.”
Taking a swipe at the umpiring, Dhoni noted, “It is important to improve umpiring standards. Here, there was turn and some help for the spinners but it was not the kind of Indian track where it becomes difficult to judge anything. Decision-making should be straight-forward. Then, if you see mistakes being made, then things do get difficult for the affected side.”
That didn’t mean, Dhoni added, that India must automatically pitch for the UDRS. “Maybe we can wait and get to a position where we are really comfortable with using the review system. If we can get something that’s as close to a hot-spot, which more or less gives the correct decision, I will be very happy.”
His opposite number, Daniel Vettori, has been a staunch advocate of the review system. “I can only be consistent with my opinion,” he said. “I have said all along that I have enjoyed the referral system and that it’s good for cricket.”
Two sides of the coin, there.