Andy Flower for referring suspected catches to TV umpire
Andy Flower, the England coach, has his say in favour of the controversial TV referral system to get a ruling about dubious catches in international cricket.
The English coach, who underwent an emergency skin surgery at a local Brisbane hospital to remove a melanoma in his right cheek, is at odds with the Australian captain, who was annoyed by Alastair Cook’s decision of not leaving the crease
after Ponting took a catch low to the ground on the final day of the drawn Gabba Test.
The England opener, who returned unbeaten at 235, was on 209 and asked the on-field umpire to refer the case to the third umpire. But the slow-motion replays on TV were inconclusive and the batsman was favoured.
Ponting, who later claimed that was a ‘fair catch’, said that referring the disputed catches to the inadequate technology was a stain on the international sport. "I do feel a little bit annoyed because I think it is a blight on the game
that we are trusting in technology that is not good enough to show it", said the Australian captain.
Ponting, who is a huge supporter of UDRS (Umpire Decision Review System), also sought an explanation from the match referees at the conclusion of last day’s game over his catch being overturned by the third umpire.
On the other hand, England’s coach said that an honesty system is not applicable in the professional sporting age as there have been many catches in the past as well that were mistakenly claimed to be fair by the fielder.
“I've always thought that that [an honesty system] is the ideal, however, if we did leave it at that, there'd be a lot of catches taken on the bounce that are claimed by fielders", said Flower while talking to media reporters.
Flower also said that there were a number of players of a spotless character, who claimed catches but the replays showed they were bounced, “it's not because they're trying to cheat, it's because sometimes you just can't tell”, said the
supporter of the referral system.
Flower also urged that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should give the umpires the sole right to consult the TV umpire about a suspected dismissal, no-matter it be a close lbw appeal or a low catch.
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