ICC gives green signal to implement UDRS (Umpire Decision Review System) in 2011 Cricket World Cup
ICC has given the green signal for the implementation of UDRS in the upcoming 2011 Cricket World Cup in the subcontinent (India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka). UDRS (Umpire Decision Review System) is a referral system in which players in field can ask for the referral of a particular decision of the on-field umpires to the video umpire. Third umpires, with the help of video aids, can uphold or change the decision of field umpires.
This system was implemented in 2009 where ICC asked all test playing nations to implement the Umpire Decision Review System in test matches to minimize the wrong decisions by the field umpires. Cricket is not the first game to experience the evolutions in the field of video technology and subsequent changing in rules to minimize the human error in giving decisions. We have lot of examples where video technology plays an important role, like in tennis, field hockey and rugby.
ICC had asked to implement the review system in all test matches from September 2009 onwards, but it could not be put into operation as there was no single system of reviewing the appeal. It is now decided that this system will be implemented by the mutual agreement between the host and guest playing team. The main hurdle for the implementation is the advanced technology not available with all the broadcasters. UDRS will be implemented in the coming World Cup subject to the agreement between the broadcaster ESPN star network and host nations.
Haroon Lorgat, the ICC Chief Executive, said on 1st July, 2010 after the ICC meeting, "We have all seen the benefits of using DRS to assist umpires in Test cricket and we are now keen to use DRS in the ICC Cricket World Cup. We also acknowledge and we are grateful for the support provided by broadcasters and technology suppliers around the world during the development phase of DRS."
The video umpire has a lot of options available to analyze the decision sent to him for review. There are lots of specially positioned cameras available to see the exact image. One camera is focused on the crease to check whether the ball was legal or not, and if found legal, it is analyzed further. For lbws, hawk eye technology is used, which is a ball-tracking technology giving the trajectory of the ball bowled. For detecting whether the ball hit the bat in lbw decisions, a heat mark infrared image is created to check if it hit the bat before the pad or not. For caught-behinds, snick-o-meter is used, which detects the slightest of noise during the time the ball passed near the bat.
There were some issues with the review system when it started, but generally every team is supporting this system. During the England - South Africa Test match at The Wanderers early this year, TV umpire Daryl Harper upheld the field umpire decision of not giving caught behind of Graeme Smith. During the review, Harper couldn’t listen to the noise produced while the ball nicked the bat of Smith. Later, during an investigation, it was proved that Harper didn’t increase the voice of his monitor and ultimately couldn’t listen to the noise. The ICC fact-finding committee declared it as a “Technical Failure”.
If implemented, the UDRS will definitely change the scenario of the game where the umpire’s decision was final, and now the playing teams can get a review of any decision. This will increase the credibility of the game, but on other hand, it somehow takes the beauty away from the game. The referring side is bound to ask for a review 15, 20 seconds after the decision, and the video umpire may take 3-4 minutes to decide. This break will increase the extra gap in the game which may slow down the proceedings. However, there is no denying that such review systems should be introduced, as some incorrect decisions can lead to the ruin of a player’s entire future. Players practice for months and years to reach the top level, and a single human error can effectively bury all their hard work.
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