Cricket and Technology.

Hayden batting on 6 facing Hoggard in the fourth Test at Perth in first innings replying to England’s meager 159 on somewhat batting track. Hoggard bowling his heart out to squeeze some kind of in-road early in the Australian innings to start much awaited Australian collapse. Suddenly, ball struck on the pad, it looked right in front, height was Okay, Hoggard pleaded to see Umpire’s rising finger. Oh, no. Umpire unmoved. What’s wrong with that shout? Everybody turned head towards gigantic screen to find out what halted Umpire to raise his finger. After watching several shorts, everyone in the commentary box, press box and in the stands of Waca, Perth opined that it was as plumb as it can get.

England lost that Test match by an innings and 99 runs. Hayden made 153 after that convincing LBW shout. Four nil down English side retrospected several aspects of this another emphatic loss to archrivals and closeness of that appeal against Hayden when he was just setting himself for big inning.

This and several other incidents in the recent past that was marred with the stigma of bad umpiring. International Cricket Council has to get up and decide what should be done to leave these blemishes out of the game as much as possible. One possible and probable answer to all these questions is use of technology. Lbw is probably the worst hit area by inconsistency of umpires. At least Leg before wicket needs to go to the third umpire who can check the validity of appeals with the aid of TV monitors.

Cricket is already a lengthy game of six to seven hours of the day. If we put few more minutes in account of controversial decisions, then it will not cause any further time loss on part of game lovers, rather it can send many dissatisfied people satisfied to their homes.