Prior backs role of on-field umpires
Matt Prior has offered his support to the on-field umpires during the current trial of review technology as the players continue to come to grips with the new system
Andrew McGlashan in Jamaica06-Feb-2009
Andrew Flintoff refers his appeal for lbw against Devon Smith after it was was turned down © AFP
Matt Prior, the England wicketkeeper, has offered his support to theon-field umpires during the current trial of review technology asthe players continue to come to grips with the new system. Tony Hilland Rudi Koertzen were at the centre of the action on the second daybetween England and West Indies at Sabina Park, with both sidesgaining and losing from the third umpire.This is the third series to be part of the trial, following theprevious contests between India and Sri Lanka then New Zealand andWest Indies. Devon Smith was given out lbw to Andrew Flintoff afterHill, the on-field official, had originally declined the appeal, whileRamnaresh Sarwan was reprieved after Hill had initially given apositive decision in Steve Harmison’s favour.”I think a lot of the players have some sympathy with the guys[umpires] because they are making tricky decisions,” Prior said.”We’ve just had an afternoon of having to try and make decisions in asplit second and it’s not easy. Everyone makes mistakes, players willmake more mistakes than umpires in a day’s play. If an umpire makes amistake it’s not because they are trying to. If the decision ischanged then so be it.”Five decisions were reviewed during the second day’s play and all inthe space of 12 overs. The most controversial of those was Sarwan’soverturned lbw when on 5, with replays showing the ball would haveclipped the top of the stumps.”Harmison’s one with the use of Hawk-Eye looks like it is hitting thetop of the bails which is out,” Prior said. “So from that point ofview you can get a bit frustrated. But it’s not easy. The third umpireis making a guess decision as much as anyone else. If you are trustingHawk-Eye to track the ball three-quarters of the way or longer, thenwhy not all the way. “As a wicketkeeper, Prior will often be in the thick of the action whenreviews are asked for, although he said that he can only be of somuch use to Andrew Strauss when the ball is swinging “A lot of peoplewould say that the keeper has the best view but that’s not always thecase,” he said. “We had a couple where the ball was tailing into legstump and you lose the line.”From my own point of view it’s very much an instinctive call. You seeit and you either feel it’s out or you don’t. But when a decision likethe Steve Harmison one is given not out you almost startsecond-guessing yourself a little because I thought that was prettyclose.”Sarwan admitted he was grateful for his escape but said that WestIndies remained unsure about the system following their firstexperience of it on the recent tour of New Zealand. “In our team nottoo many guys are keen on it. It kind of takes the umpires out of thegame. Sometimes it goes your way, sometimes not, we have to realisethat everyone is human and makes mistakes and that is something thatyou need to understand.”One of the issues that came to the fore was the time it takes to makethe decisions, which was an original concern about the furtherintroduction of technology. The system has already been tweaked by theICC to reduce the number of reviews down to two per team, perinnings, and the stoppages in play will need further monitoring.”Do you sacrifice that to make sure you get the right decision?,”Prior said. “There is a huge amount at stake at the minute and bigdecisions have to be made. Traditionalists will say it does take quitea bit of time out of the game, and why shouldn’t the umpires have theright to make their decision as they always have done?”