Cricket is one of the most popular sports in India and as once Vijay Amirtharaj said,"Cricket is a Religion in India !"
As far as cricket is concerned the most burning issue that is plaguing cricket and hot issue that remains to be solved is the ‘umpiring controversy !’ which has recently risen its ugly head once again was at SCG, the Sydney cricket ground, during the second cricket test played between India and Australia.A few months ago it was the Australian umpire Darrel Hare who opened up the pandora box of controversy in England in the course of a test between England and Pakistan.The controversial umpire charged Pakistan of ball tampering and the captain Inzamam to prove his team’s innocense staged a walk out in the middle of the ongoing test and in the end England was declared a winner by default of the Pakistan team.In the ensuing enquiry held by the ICC,the stand of Pakistan was vindicated and Darrel Hare was forced to resign from the ICC elite panel of umpires.
What happened in SCG, Australia,was a total umpiring farce, the major contribution of grave umpiring blunders was committed by Steve Bucknor.When the BCCI reported the umpiring blunders to the ICC and called for a review of grave blunders committed by the umpires who officiated during the SCG test, both umpires were removed from officiating in the third test at Perth much to the chagrin of Steve Bucknor, who was 61.
The real problem that lie before us is how to avoid umpiring controversies and to get a fair decision from the umpires.Now we actually miss Dicky Bird one of the best umpires that ever officiated during the tests.His impeccable performance as an umpire was more laudable considering the absence of modern technologies,third and fourth umpires,elctronic eye,hawk-eye etc in those days when he was officiating as an umpire.We crave for more Dicky Birds in these troubled days of umpiring.
Let us also discuss some useful points of view and suggestions put forth by cricket experts to solve the intricate problem of umpiring controvercies. Increasing the number of elite panel umpires from 10 to 15 is one idea given the tight schedule of various tests and ODIs played these days and also the expected engagement of elite umpires during the proposed IPL matches to be played from April, 2008.
Another idea mooted out is increasing the use of electronic devices and the third eye to avoid the umpiring controversy.But it has the drawback of delaying the proceedings of a match very much.
Another idea mooted out by the former New Zealand player Martin Crowe is the option of choosing a review of the umpiring decision by the affected player himself when he feels that the decision of the umpire is certainly false.But such options should be restricted to some extent say one or two but not more than that.
Another idea that is mooted out that the older generation of umpires should give way to the younger generation of umpires.For example the younger generation of elite umpires like Simon Taufel and Aleem Dar are more error free and respected by most of the team nowadays.Therefore, instead of involving in intricate controversies of poor umpiring it is better to pave the way for younger crop of umpires.
Anyhow, we crave for more Dicky Birds for cricket umpiring and enjoy the game in its real spirit free from any controversies.
As time goes on newer ideas may emerge to solve the umpiring controversies.
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