The International Cricket Council has introduced a new referral system which was trialed for the first time in the first test match between India and Sri Lanka. The referral system uses a technology called the Virtual Eye, which was developed by a Dunedin based company called Animation Research Ltd. The $1 million technology which was developed over 10 weeks uses ultra motion, slow motion and super slow replays for visuals along with ball tracking technology and sounds from the microphones installed in the stumps to determine if a player is out or not.
ICC’s new experimental rule allows batsman to request the T.V umpire to review a field umpire’s decision of a dismissal if the batsman is not content with the same. It also allows the captain or acting captain of the fielding side to challenge a not out decision given by the field umpire. The field umpire may consult with the T.V. umpire who will review the replay with the help of the virtual eye and inform the field umpire. The final decision however rests with the field umpire. However the rule permits only three such referrals per innings and also the request for the review should be made before the ball comes to rest. A referral once made cannot be withdrawn.
ICC general manager, David Richardson earlier expressed that the technology will not replace the umpires. “The umpire’s word is still final. The review process is an extension of the appeal,” Richardson said. “Umpires like using technology in this way because it does not undermine their role. Their skill is still paramount, they have to make the decision. In fact, even when it goes on review, it is the on-field umpires who have to make the final decision. The decision-making starts and ends with them. “Whenever this issue is debated, there is a variance of opinion. I would say it is always about 65-35 in favour of using technology, and umpires are no different. There are some umpires who prefer to be the sole human judge and there are others who would not mind using technology.” “But we mustn’t forget what the real objective of this process is — that is to avoid obvious and clear mistakes.” ARL’s managing director Ian Taylor said that though the company won the deal to supply the Virtual Eye to India through 2010 for the home matches it was initially used by the broadcasters to enhance the viewing experience.
He also said, “Technology should never replace the umpire. It should be put there to aid them,” “How we can aid the umpire is, we can give you factual information about where it pitched and where it hit. “When it comes to predicting where the ball will end up, the computer is guessing as well,” he said. “Actually, the umpire has an advantage, because he can feel the wind, he can see the dust. He is there and he should be the one who decides that [if the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps]. “It is designed to get rid of those ones that are totally wrong, where a series can be decided on a wrong decision because something was missed.”
The Virtual Eye referral system was first put to use on Thursday, July 24, 2008 when in the first test match between India and Sri Lanka, Indian Captain Anil Kumble asked umpire Mark Benson to review the Leg Before Wicket appeal that he denied. Benson had declared Malinda Warnapura not out after he was struck on the pad by spinner Harbhajan Singh’s ball that seemed to drift to the leg stump. T.V. umpire Rudi Koertzen however agreed with his college Benson on reviewing the replay. Anil Kumble who was enthusiastic to try the new referral system had earlier said, “It will obviously be helpful for the umpires and the teams. I can’t really say much till it is experimented because it’s something new. We’re only looking at the positive things,” “It’s meant for the errors that sometimes happen. We can look to negate that and not question the umpire’s decision at every possibility.” “In tennis, line decisions are accepted now it has become part and parcel of a tennis game,” he said. “It’s the same with cricket. We have already accepted third umpire decisions on run outs and stumpings, it’s just moving forward.”