Rule of Thumb for umpires

[kabira]

To make even contest between bat and ball, umpires should have different rules of benefit of doubt On absolute belter, flat pitches, benefit of doubt should be given to bowler. The lbws given to KP today is such case, on belters doubt should go to bowler, but on bowler friendly track/day, the doubt should go to batsman. This type of selective rule can make contest really even.

[Ram]

That system will NEVER work for the simple reason that - Who decides what is a "belter" of a wicket or a bowler friendly wicket is ? What happens if the pitch and atmospheric conditions change and aid swing and seam bowling ? or take day 5 of the test match with the rough outside off and leg-stump. Does that mean the spinner should be dealt with tougher as far as LBW are concerned on day 5 ? And this kinda begs to answer the question - " How much of the credit of a wicket should go to the bowler or the pitch" Different bowlers have bowled in same pitches , with opposite results. Maybe its the bowlers skill and not the pitch that made the ball swing. Why would anyone want to give the batsman the benefit of the doubt then ?

[Guest BossBhai]

-- Removed on request of the user --

[Holysmoke]

This is where the whole issue of standardising comes into question .... cricket has some very old fashioned rules that are subject to human interpretation ... the LBW is one of them ... and ground size is another ... they need to standardaize such things ... and in the case of LBW ... use technology.

exactly. we need more "concrete decisions". no benefit of doubt etc. Either you're out, or you're not. Mistakes like the umpires make cannot be accepted anymore. IF we follow the rule of thumb mentioned above, we are giving umpires more power to twist the rules. Who is responsible for the umpires? they can decide who to give the benefit to there will be more complaints about everything

[observer1]

KP looked out, just like SRT did against Monty Cook looked unlucky to me, but he had got away with a dead-duck lbw in the previous over