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ICC to trial TV umpires calling front-foot no-balls

ICC to trial TV umpires calling front-foot no-balls

Aug 07, 2019
04:12 pm

What's the story

There have been a number of instances in cricket where the on-field umpires have failed to come up with a proper call on the front-foot no-balls. In order to curtail such errors in the future, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is working on the idea to allow TV umpires to make the call for the same. Here are further details.

Six-month trial

ICC to start six-month trial involving limited-overs series

It is being reported that the ICC is set to start a six-month trial across a number of limited-overs series. During this trial, the right for calling a front-foot no-ball would solely lie with the TV umpire, and not the on-field umpire. While the process was trialled before during the ODI series between England and Pakistan in 2016, it would be done afresh.

Technology

The same 2016 technology to be used

ICC GM Geoff Allardice has confirmed ESPNCricinfo that the technology used in 2016 would be used once again. The third-umpire would be given an image of the front-foot landing with a few seconds. "He would communicate to the on-field umpire that a no-ball has been delivered, so every delivery on the field would be played as a fair delivery until called otherwise," said Allardice.

Quote

TV umpire to take the call through an enhanced picture

"The footage is shown on a slight delay, it goes to super slo-mo as the foot approaches the point of landing, and then, it freezes. The routine works well, with the third umpire judging the no-ball off a picture that isn't always shown," added Allardice.

Implementation

Recommendation to implement across every limited-overs tie

Allardice further said that the recommendation is to implement it across every ODI and T20I series played in the next six months. However, he added that it would be a big exercise to monitor all the no-balls bowled across all these matches during this phase. "We just need to understand all the challenges before implementing this across all matches," continued Allardice.

TV coverage

Levels of television coverage might make implementation difficult for some

Allardice also explained that the levels of TV coverage are not the same in every nation, which would make the implementation difficult. He also asserted that while matches are held across 80 venues, there are also 104 members, who play non-televised T20I matches. "Thinking through all of the implications of introducing this is the exercise for us over the next six months," concluded Allardice.

Author's take

Timing could be an issue

As ICC prepares for this trial on a broader scale, the author feels that the timing of making the no-ball call could be a crucial factor, as taking too long to decide could irk the players. Moreover, the author also feels that working on a technology similar to football's goal-line technology could be fruitful for the no-ball issue in the future.