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Source: Photosport
Caught behind dismissals might still spark controversy during the first cricket test between New Zealand and Pakistan at Dunedin on Tuesday, despite new technology being showcased to assist umpires.
The three-test series will be the first to employ the International Cricket Council's (ICC) decision review system.
But while the third umpire now has a `virtual eye' ball tracking to rule on contentious leg before wicket decisions, television's "hot spot' technology will not immediately be available.
The third umpire would only be able to rely on the naked eye and the usually reliable `snicko' sound byte if a batsman or the fielding captain referred a caught behind dismissal - or failed appeal during the test here at University Oval, ICC umpire and referees manager Doug Cowie said.
"At the moment it's sound based, there's still some debate whether `hot spot' is going to be used or not," Cowie said.
The danger in not having "hot spot" - which indicates whether the ball hit the bat - was evident last year when New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum was given out caught behind against the West Indies.
Third umpire Mark Benson did not have access to "hot spot" replays seen by television viewers that confirmed there was no contact but on-field umpire Rudi Koertzen's decision stood.
While the future role of "hot spot" is yet to be determined the "virtual eye" ball tracking system developed by Dunedin company, Animation Research Limited, should at least leave no doubt over leg before wicket dismissals.
T
he new technology determines if the ball pitches in line, the impact point on the batsman's pads and whether it would have continued on to hit the stumps.
The captains and management of both sides were updated on the decision review system today and were cautiously optimistic.
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori was pleased the number of unsuccessful referrals allowed per innings had been reduced from three during last season's trial period to two.
But one would be more appropriate.
He felt the system should aim at eradicating decisions that are clearly wrong rather than giving teams the opportunity to push their luck.
"One (referral) doesn't allow people just to go upstairs for a bit of a guess," he said.
"Hopefully we can get it where it becomes an instrument to get rid of the bad decisions and nothing more," said Vettori, who preferred the on field officials to make the majority of the rulings.
"I think the review systems been brought in to get rid of the obvious ones...the arbitrary ones, you want the umpire to make a decision and be involved in the game either way."
Pakistan were not involved in the trial process last season so will experience a decision review system for the first time tomorrow.
"I think it's a good idea," Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam said.
"They want to remove all the errors. I think this new technology will go a long way (to achieving that)."
Australian Simon Taufel and Billy Doctrove of the West Indies will stand in the first test while South African Koertzen is the third umpire.
The third umpire role rotates between the trio for the remaining tests in Wellington and Napier.
