Umpire Referrals - What’s the Point?
At the beginning of the county season, we were introduced to a new rule where in the Friends Provident Trophy, a side could challenge two decisions of the on field umpires to the third umpire watching the tv. For those that didn’t know about the rule, you can read more about it here.
At the time I didn’t really like the sound of it, but I was willing to maybe see how it would play out. I’ve now seen a couple of games where it has been used and I don’t really see the point in it all. No decisions have been changed yet by the third umpire - which although is good because it means the on field umpires are doing the right thing - means that the whole thing seems much ado about nothing. The commentators go on and on about it, players seem obliged to challenge the umpire just to use up the two chances they have, and as I mentioned, not one decision has been changed.
Maybe this is because “The TV umpire will reverse a decision if it is beyond reasonable doubt that the on-field umpire has made a clear and obvious mistake.” LBW decisions are not always clear cut, and unless there is an obvious wrong doing when someone has hit it and been given out, I don’t see much ever changing in the rest of the games this is used in. So really, why bring in something that isn’t going to change the game at all? Its not revolutionary in the same way that the third umpire was for run outs etc, and I really don’t see it enhancing the game at all. Is it a by-product of people sitting in a meeting with nothing else to talk about? Seems it to me…
And another quick thought for the day. Warm up properly when playing cricket or be prepared to be in pain for two or more days afterwards like I have been since my first game of the season on Saturday! (and we lost, boo hoo)
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