Your views on the umpire referral technology...

[Ram]

Only this time, its not from player opposition or official interference, but because of the costs involved.... Costs involved may derail referral system Alex Brown and Nagraj Gollapudi November 13, 2009 The controversial Umpire Decision Review System has come under serious threat, with broadcasters and national boards baulking at the implementation costs. The UDRS will be scrapped for the forthcoming India-Sri Lanka and South Africa-England Test series, and might not be used in Australia. Following a series of trials at domestic and international level, the ICC announced in June the referral system would be rolled out from October. Cricket's governing body is understood to have communicated that it would not be responsible for the cost burden of the system, leaving boards and/or broadcasters to foot the bill. That decision has prompted consternation among the latter parties, who believe the ICC should carry the cost for a system it is pushing to implement. "If the ICC wants it, they will have to pay for it," Gerald Majola, chief executive of Cricket South Africa, told Cricinfo. "It will not be used (for the England Test series). "This is between the broadcasters and the ICC. The broadcaster is not prepared to pay the additional costs required ... (and) we informed the ICC at the time that we would not be paying for it." Ratnakar Shetty, the Indian board's chief administrative officer, said there was "nothing to explain" about the BCCI's decision to not use the system for the Test series against Sri Lanka. India originally supported the implementation of the UDRS, but have reportedly been dissuaded by players, who have reservations about the effectiveness of referrals. The UDRS was designed to assist umpires in the decision making process. Teams were to be allowed two "challenges" per innings - down from the original three - in a system similar to that used in American football and tennis. "I'm excited that the committee concluded that the Umpire Decision Review System had a positive effect on the game," Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive, said in June. "It reduced the number of incorrect decisions and also cut down on the instances of player dissent." But confusion over the cost of implementing the system could see it terminated before it begins. Hawk-Eye, ultra slow motion cameras and "Hot Spot" are among the technological devices used in trials, but all come at a sizeable cost. At least one additional Hawk-Eye technician would be required at each venue if it were to be used for the UDRS, rather than normal television coverage, while rental of other equipment would stretch the budgets of broadcasters. "I don't know what will happen at this stage," said Paul Hawkins, inventor and managing director of Hawk-Eye. "It's all up in the air." Reports in Australia state that the ICC will dispatch a senior official to hold discussions with Cricket Australia and host broadcaster, Channel Nine, in a bid to implement the UDRS for Test series against West Indies and Pakistan. But there are no guarantees. "The ICC Board agreed to the implementation of the UDRS provided there was no cost implication to the member," an ICC spokesman said. "Perhaps there was an issue with the complexity of existing broadcast deals and how the system would be implemented." Alex Brown is deputy editor of Cricinfo, Nagraj Gollapudi is an assistant editor at Cricinfo http://www.cricinfo.com/ci-icc/content/current/story/434444.html -------------------- If they did actually originally intend to have this system in place, its quite surprising that they didnt think through all the possible implementation costs/technicalities involved. Also, its quite interesting to note that the Indian players seem in opposition to this entire referral thingy.

[Nova]

I think it should be implemented. There have been many times where wrong decisions have been given at a crucial time. The challenge system like in Tennis should work.. it's not like all decisions are going to be referred. I don't understand why the players are sceptical about it. Try it first and then see how it pans out. Well if money is a factor, then let the rich boards come out with a solution I guess...itna paisa khaate hain phir bhi ... :tounge_smile: I am all for technology that can further improve the game.

[cowboysfan]

what a cop out.so we sucked at using the referrals in SL and now our players dont trust it anymore?.have they forgotten sydney?.they are responsible for any bad decisions in tests which might result in a loss.they better not complain about bad decisions the next time they tour.this is beyond stupid.The Icc is also stupid in insisting the boards and broadcasters pay for the referrals after approving it.what a disorganized sports body.Its not like they are strapped for cash.

[saneindian]

LBWs should not be a part of the referral system. Use it for caught behind, bat pad catches using the more reliable hot spot technology. If at all we need to use the referral system for LBWs, the only area it may be of use is if there's an inside edge hence ruling out a LBW. Using it to judge if the impact was inside or outside or even for the height factor isnt fool proof yet ( hawk eye suggests 9 out of 10 LBW shouts as out). Also the 3rd umpire should be given the rights to inform the on field umpires if an obvious error of judgment in giving a batsman out has been made.

[Lord]

i never liked the referrals.complete waste of time.instead there should a system where 3rd umpire changes the decision of onfield umpire in case of obvious mistake.

[Feed]

Cricket faces embarrassing U-turn over new umpire referral technology Cricket is facing embarrassment over its botched attempt to bring in the controversial umpire referral system for England’s Test series here in South Africa.More... It's decision time! Cricket facing embarrassing U-turn over new technology By Paul Newman Last updated at 11:48 PM on 16th November 2009 Cricket is facing embarrassment over its botched attempt to bring in the controversial umpire referral system for England’s Test series here in South Africa. Plans to introduce what is officially known as the Umpire Decision Review System, which was such a disaster when it was trialled during England’s series in the West Indies, have been scrapped for both England’s tour and the forthcoming Tests between India and Sri Lanka. The problem is over who is prepared to pay for the technology which will be required to try to make a success over the experiment which involves players challenging umpires decisions and referring them to the TV official. Decision time: Cricket has experimented with hot spot technology The International Cricket Council have, extraordinarily, said that they are not responsible for the costs even though they supposed to be the world governing body and it is their scheme. That has left both the home boards involved and host broadcasters also, more understandably, saying that they too are not prepared to stump up significant sums for the likes of Hawk-Eye and Hot Spot to be used in the decisions. ‘If the ICC want this then they will have to pay for it,’ said Gerald Majola, chief executive of Cricket South Africa. ‘It will not be used for the England series. This is between the broadcasters and the ICC. The broadcaster (in this instance Supersport) is not prepared to pay the addition costs and we informed the ICC that we won’t too.’ The ICC will see if they can salvage the system for West Indies tour of Australia but unless they are prepared to both bring in the system properly and put up the sums required then it should quickly be consigned to history to avoid a repeat of the time-wasting and highly unsatisfactory scenes that blighted England’s Test in Jamaica.

[Sachinism]

How much would the cost of the referral system be?

[Ram]

I was hoping that pretty soon, people will realize the insanity of the whole thing and abandon it, but it looks like monetary factors have played part. Who cares, good riddance!

[Params7]

what a cop out.so we sucked at using the referrals in SL and now our players dont trust it anymore?.have they forgotten sydney?.they are responsible for any bad decisions in tests which might result in a loss.they better not complain about bad decisions the next time they tour.this is beyond stupid.The Icc is also stupid in insisting the boards and broadcasters pay for the referrals after approving it.what a disorganized sports body.Its not like they are strapped for cash.

ICC is the worst sports governing body ever.

[fineleg]

Poor ICC and BCCI - they dont have money to fund this :haha: Let them first make Moar & moar money through circus cricket - Moar! Then, lets see if at least then they'll fund this referral technology for the real Test cricket :dontknow:

[DomainK]

I can not understand how there can be a commercial problem in cricket that can not be solved. referrals mean break, break means more airtime and more airtime means more money. So what's the problem?:dontknow: They just need to tie up with the broadcasters.

[yoda]

From MM's excitement, looks like the spirit of the game has been upheld. :--D

[Mr. Wicket]

Poor ICC and BCCI - they dont have money to fund this :haha: Let them first make Moar & moar money through circus cricket - Moar! Then, lets see if at least then they'll fund this referral technology for the real Test cricket :dontknow:

Maybe they just want to keep test cricket charming and random?

[Ram]

Maybe they just want to keep test cricket charming and random?

Too bad most of the Indian cricket team and many other leading lights of the world game seem to share that perspective. Looks like they must be loving the charm and randomness too..:P

[graphic23]

Too bad most of the Indian cricket team and many other leading lights of the world game seem to share that perspective. Looks like they must be loving the charm and randomness too..:P

Um, thats precisely why guys like CBF,etc. are saying that we shouldn't complain if Sydney happens again.

[vvvslaxman]

I think only to detect bat involvement TV replays ( leg before, catch) should be used. Rest of them should be handled by on field umpires.

[iHammad]

I think only to detect bat involvement TV replays ( leg before' date=' catch) should be used. Rest of them should be handled by on field umpires.[/quote'] +1

[Ram]

Um' date=' thats precisely why guys like CBF,etc. are saying that we shouldn't complain if Sydney happens again.[/quote'] First of all, who/what is 'CBF'? And who comprise of the 'etc'? What happened to us in Sydney was just unacceptable. Poor umiring and some ridiculous protocols followed by the umpire cost us the game. Let's all be very clear about that. But that does not mean we fuddamentally alter a system that's worked reasonably well for over 100 years.

[graphic23]

Define reasonably well. CBF = cowboysfan. Because as I remember, I've been deprived of watching my favorite batsman bat several times due to blind umpires, and unreasonable expectations of the umpires, and an incredibly incompetent ruling body. If they want to get past the incompetence, and reduce the errors due to blind umpires, I'm all for it.

[Mr. Wicket]

Define reasonably well. CBF = cowboysfan. Because as I remember' date=' I've been deprived of watching my favorite batsman bat several times due to blind umpires, and unreasonable expectations of the umpires, and an incredibly incompetent ruling body. If they want to get past the incompetence, and reduce the errors due to blind umpires, I'm all for it.[/quote'] Charm of Tendulkar actually batting >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> "Charm of the game"