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New Zealand's Brendon McCullum (C) plays a shot as Sri Lanka's Prasanna Jayawardene (R) and Mahela Jayawardene look on - Source: Reuters -
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The International Cricket Council's (ICC) first use of the a new umpiring decision review system worked in New Zealand's favour today as Brendon McCullum had his dismissal reversed two balls before stumps here at University Oval.
McCullum was initially given out leg before wicket to Mohammad Asif by Australian umpire Simon Taufel for 25 - a breakthrough that would have seen New Zealand end the opening day of the first test at a precarious 276 for seven.
However, McCullum immediately sought a review and when third umpire Rudi Koertzen studied new ball-tracking technology he was given the benefit of the doubt and reinstated.
It was the second time the Pakistanis were stymied by technology designed to eradicate errors.
When Ross Taylor was on 54 he survived an lbw appeal, again by Asif, and Pakistan unsuccessfully sought to overturn Billy Doctrove's call.
ICC umpires manager Doug Cowie explained the rationale behind the two decisions at the close of play.
While the delivery that struck Taylor pitched in line, the computer animation revealed the centre of the ball had not landed in the impact zone, prompting enough doubt as to whether it would hit the stumps.
"There is a margin for error and that goes in favour of the batsman. There was no clear evidence he should change his decision," Cowie said.
In McCullum's case, the technology revealed the ball struck outside the line of the wicket to wicket impact zone, meaning the batsman was safe.
"It was exactly how the system was expected to work," Cowie said.
"No umpire likes to make mistakes but I think umpires would rather see their mistakes corrected before they go to bed."
Cowie said if the technology was available last season during the ICC's trial of a review system, New Zealand's Daniel Flynn may have made his maiden test century on University Oval against the West Indies.
Flynn was given out lbw after originally surviving the appeal. The bowler and West Indies captain Chris Gayle successfully referred the decision to the third umpire and Flynn was dismissed for 95.
Last year the third umpire relied on a replay showing the point of impact and not where the ball is likely to continue.
"A very small portion of the ball struck in line with wicket to wicket," Cowie said of Flynn's demise.
"It was overturned on a small amount of evidence. This year we insist there is more clear evidence shown to the third umpire before the decision is changed."
Taylor, New Zealand's top scorer with 94, said he was always confident he was not out.
"When I first got hit I thought it was quite high and maybe outside the line. As it happened the umpire made the right decision."
