After the loud and super-confident LBW appeal, the bowler was stunned that his appeal had been turned down.In a shocked state, he asked the Umpire “Sir, don’t you think the ball would have hit the wicket?” “ Yes, sure”, replied the Umpire. “But the leg came in between.” This of course is a much exaggerated joke on Umpiring but the fact remains that despite all the cameras, technology, third Umpire and what not, the chances of human error still continue and controversies keep popping up like the finger of the omniscient Umpire.
Umpiring has always caught the eye of the sport-lovers and game analysts who are keen to decipher the fine print of the game. Especially run-outs, catches which can turn the table in the game, and getting rid of a player who is tearing into the other side, a “crucial” run-out or catch can very much make or break the match and turn the tide.
Controversial decisions, though fewer now, thanks to the advanced technology that has taken the game in its fold, however, still reign supreme when the decision is a match changer.
To judge whether a batsman is out or whether the catch is genuine or a faked one, whether the call is worth its shout or just an attempt to intimidate the opponent, the decision of the umpire is always subject to criticism and mostly pooh-poohed by the affected party. The recent out given by Third Umpire declaring Surya Kumar Yadav out caught by Dawid Malan in the 4th T-20 match between India and England played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 18th March 2021, is again creating much controversy. Surya Kumar Yadav, who was playing brilliantly in his first international T-20, was given out at a time when he was in full flow and the camera showed the ball touching the ground when Dawid Malan was supposed to have caught it. Despite best technology deployed, the soft signals of out caught in the deep has as many naysayers as there are affirmations – but the controversy reigns supreme. After many replays and close-ups by the camera ball looked touching the ground and this infuriated the Indian captain, commentators,VVS Laxman and otherswho questioned the authenticity and veracity of the decision. But cricket is cricket, the game of uncertainties and like any other game will have its share of parti pris and hiccups.
I wonder what the all-time great Umpires like Steve Bucknor, Dickie Bird, David Shepherd, Simon Taufel, Billy Bowden, Daryl Harper, Rudi Koertzen, Darell Hairwould have opined on such controversies. They are mostly retired now but are remembered even today for their contribution to the game as fair, unbiased and extremely knowledgeable care takers of the game.
Nonetheless, while such dilemma of “out vs not out” bears heavily on the minds of analysts, the cake is taken by the all-time cricketing greats, who if convinced they were out, never even waited for the Out signal and used to leave for the pavilion. Sachin Tendulkar and Adam Gilchrist were two such players who often did this. This not only elevated their reputation as to their fair play but also elevated the game to a level fit to be emulated by the other players and teams. It is another story that with the cut-throat competition and so much at stake nowadays how much prick of conscience would be required to move players into a different league.
The writer can be reached at Prasad.amritanshu@gmail.com