| In an era when we read about corporate | | | | In Antigua, one of Cricket's newest and most |
| scandals--including former reputable bank managers, | | | | exciting forms of the game, Stanford 2020 Cricket |
| highly respectable pastors and trustworthy | | | | was played nightly over three months, to the |
| politicians-- cricket has established a Mount Olympus | | | | backdrop of top Caribbean stars, visiting movie stars, |
| of virtue: a list of elite umpires in a mythical tower of | | | | and yes-even Eli Manning, who was treated to the |
| infallibility. The last time I checked the list of Popes, | | | | rudiments of Baseball's sister-game. During the Nevis |
| from their inception by the Cardinal of Bishops in | | | | vs. Jamaica game, Nevis had Jamaica struggling in the |
| 1099, history could have difficulty assigning the | | | | first five overs. When the umpire failed to give Chris |
| adverb "respectful" to names of corrupt Popes like | | | | Gayle out L.B.W, the ghost of big island/small island |
| Pope Pius 111, Pope Fernan Martin V, and Pope Philip | | | | injustice ran on the filed and killed the spirit of the |
| Le Bel or "Fair Philip" 1285-1314. Let us not forget that | | | | game. Jamaica narrowly won the game. In like |
| the only non-Muslim male that the Holy Koran cites as | | | | manner, the tempo of the Barbados game changed |
| an example of Pious living, Isa Ibm Miriam (Jesus son | | | | completely with one unfair dismissal going in Barbados' |
| of Mary)--He chose an elite list of 12, and one | | | | direction. Not that the outcome would have been any |
| betrayed him for money. | | | | different, but it killed the spirit of the game---similar |
| In St. Lucia years ago, a local bowler missed his | | | | to what happened with Bucknor's bumbling during the |
| chance at fame when he cleaned bowled an English | | | | 2007 World Cup final in Barbados. |
| test icon with the first ball. The occasion was a visit | | | | In Test Cricket it is even worse. How can you have |
| from an English touring club. When he asked the | | | | men in their late 60's and 70's using their eyes only to |
| umpire afterwards why he called no-ball when his | | | | decide the fate of players' future? It appears to me |
| foot was behind the crease, the umpire simply said, | | | | that the implanting of their autocratic "Elite List" of |
| "People packed the stadium to see their British test | | | | infallible Mt. Olympians is their way of saying: "we |
| heroes. They can see you bowl anytime." | | | | control this game... do as we say or we will not |
| Viv Richards, arguably one of the worlds' most prolific | | | | sanction you." I will predict this much. Within three |
| cricketers, was robbed of hundreds or even | | | | years, you will either have wholesale rebellion in test |
| thousands of runs because of bad | | | | cricket, leaving only the shorter 2020 versions (which |
| decisions-accidental or otherwise. He was so feared | | | | they do not control) or they must upgrade and use |
| that whenever he visited a host country to play, | | | | modern technology. |
| most appeals against him for LBW were granted by | | | | On 12 March-this past month, the ICC sent out a |
| the host nations. To minimize accidentally | | | | press release to the effect that they have "selected |
| unfavourable decisions--which were frequent during | | | | their best 8 cricket umpires in the world." The new |
| his career-- he would take his guard on the leg | | | | "elite panel" members consist of: Steve Bucknor from |
| stump, and then move six inches outside the same | | | | the West Indies, Asoka De Silva from Sri lanka, Daryl |
| leg stump, giving all bowlers full view of his three | | | | Harper from Australia, Rudi Koertzen from, South |
| stumps. His lightning quick reflexes did to balls outside | | | | Africa, Dave Orchard from South Africa, David |
| off, what lizards long tongues do to insects outside | | | | Shepherd from England, Russell Tiffin from |
| their reach. When he did that, questionable stumping | | | | Zimbabwe, and Srinivas Venkataraghavan from India. |
| decisions were the umpires' next weak areas. In one | | | | Two umpires from the Elite Panel will stand in all |
| game I saw, he leaned back to late cut and halted | | | | future Test matches and there will be one member |
| the stroke when he saw the keeper's snout hanging | | | | standing with a home umpire for One Day |
| over his stumps. Had he executed the shot, he would | | | | Internationals. England's Peter Willey was invited to |
| have damaged the keeper. When the keeper caught | | | | become a member of the panel, but after |
| the ball and knocked down the stumps, Viv was | | | | considerable consideration, he declined the invitation. |
| given out stumped. He was, and still is one of the | | | | He cited his stringent family commitments as reasons |
| players that believe when you are out, even when | | | | for declining the offer. |
| the umpire does not think so, you should walk. He | | | | Commenting on the appointment of the game's |
| not only did that, but as captain of the West Indies, | | | | leading umpires, ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm |
| he enshrined that in his players. | | | | Speed said that umpiring at the highest level now has |
| That is a far cry from the collective behaviour of | | | | to be a full time profession, rather than a part time |
| successive Australia teams, who have benefited from | | | | job. "The eight men chosen to join the Elite Panel are |
| not-so-subtle umpires' intimidation and players' | | | | all proven performers at Test level, who command |
| over-reaction. In the second test India vs. Australia, I | | | | the respect of the captains and players. All Test |
| waited for Andrew Symmonds to walk at least twice | | | | match captains were asked to make nominations for |
| during the innings, and was very disappointed when | | | | the Panel on behalf of their teams. These |
| Australia ended with the victory and Andrew ended | | | | contributions were given serious consideration in |
| with 137 not-out-absolutely disgraceful. My simple | | | | making the final choices from the current panel of 20 |
| question is this: if all elite lists of selectees over | | | | international umpires." The other major factor in |
| centuries err, either accidentally or when enticed by | | | | choosing the Panel were the marks achieved by |
| large financial rewards, why do officials who | | | | individual umpires over the past four years. Those |
| administer the game of cricket insist on shoving | | | | are the marks awarded by captains at the end of |
| down our throats the myth that their elite list is | | | | each Test match, which assess the umpire's |
| beyond error or infiltration-deliberate or accidental? | | | | performance against a range of criteria. |
| The last India vs. Australia series is a perfect example | | | | According to Malcolm Speed, chairman of the ICC, |
| why we must rely on modern technology in a game | | | | "Umpiring is one of the toughest tasks in international |
| where one bad decision, much more many, can not | | | | sport and this panel represents the best decision |
| only influence the outcome of a series, but damage | | | | makers in the game. Their skills will help improve the |
| the careers of professionals as well. For years, the | | | | overall standard of umpiring at international level and |
| cricketing public swallowed hard when umpires erred, | | | | set an example for the next generation of top class |
| sometimes blatantly. However the just concluded | | | | umpires to follow." Final selection of the Panel was |
| test series Australia vs. India, the Indian fans said | | | | made jointly by Speed, together with Sunil Gavaskar, |
| "enough is enough." After watching Andrew | | | | Chairman of the ICC's Cricket Committee-Playing. |
| Symmonds granted two not-out decisions in the | | | | My question is still this: why not use modern |
| same innings, I am not afraid to say so in print "I | | | | technology, which they have, if they all agree that |
| supported the Indian fans 1000%." | | | | decision-making is tough? In Lawn Tennis, any player |
| ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. | | | | can request the assistance of technology when a |
| I would have thought that since the Stanford2020 | | | | decision is in doubt. However there are restrictions as |
| and the Indian 2020 games are modern entities with | | | | to how many incorrect challenges you are allowed. |
| new rules, they would have replaced the dinosaur-era | | | | Why doesn't cricket borrow a page out of the lawn |
| system of "umpire's decision final" whether erroneous | | | | tennis manual? I am going to break with tradition. I |
| or not, with electronic monitoring--which they have | | | | will keep saying that any system that leaves open |
| anyway. Every questionable decision should be | | | | the possibility for men to err-regardless how |
| referred to the third umpire. A player should have the | | | | honourable they might be, they will err. I am not |
| right to question decisions that could damage his or | | | | implying that any member is shady; I am stating |
| her career. | | | | simply that it is impossible for a 21-year old to get |
| In the 2020 format of the game, how can you have | | | | every decision correct-much more a man in his |
| men using their eyes only to make split-second | | | | declining years. Players' unions need to refuse to go |
| decisions when batsmen face youngsters bowling | | | | on any tour unless they have options to appeal |
| white balls at night at speeds in excess of 100-miles | | | | questionable decisions. After all, it is their careers at |
| per hour? That is an open invitation for erroneous | | | | stake. |
| decisions and they have been happening--often. | | | | |