Cricket: More technology inevitable, says top umpire

SYDNEY, – Leading cricket umpire Simon Taufel said Tuesday that greater use of technology to help match officials was inevitable following a series of recent controversies.

Taufel said it was just a matter of time before umpires were able to refer lbw or caught-behind decisions to an off-field official for checking. “I think given the events over the last month or so it’s probably reasonably inevitable that we’re going to be using more technology in some way, shape or form,” the Australian told local radio.”What is likely to happen too is that if that does eventuate, we will probably use technology to err on the side of caution rather than make a judgment without double-checking things.”What you will probably find is that more decisions, if it’s in the hands of match officials, will tend to be either consulted or referred with the television (umpire).”Ranked the top umpire by the International Cricket Council for the past four years, Taufel warned the introduction of new technology or umpiring processes should be approached with caution.”We have to make sure that we’re not just transferring human error from on the field to off the field,” he said.”That the technology and the process is strong enough so that we get the right answer and we’re just not confusing someone else and perhaps delaying the game unnecessarily and still getting the wrong answers.”Several of Taufel’s colleagues on the ICC’s elite panel of umpires have come under fire recently for their decision-making.West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor was axed from India’s Test tour of Australia after being faulted for several decisions during the highly charged second match in Sydney.South African Rudi Koertzen was also criticised after giving Adam Gilchrist out leg before wicket despite television replays showing the Australian deflecting the ball into his pads in the one-day loss to India on Sunday.Nampa-AFP”I think given the events over the last month or so it’s probably reasonably inevitable that we’re going to be using more technology in some way, shape or form,” the Australian told local radio.”What is likely to happen too is that if that does eventuate, we will probably use technology to err on the side of caution rather than make a judgment without double-checking things.”What you will probably find is that more decisions, if it’s in the hands of match officials, will tend to be either consulted or referred with the television (umpire).”Ranked the top umpire by the International Cricket Council for the past four years, Taufel warned the introduction of new technology or umpiring processes should be approached with caution.”We have to make sure that we’re not just transferring human error from on the field to off the field,” he said.”That the technology and the process is strong enough so that we get the right answer and we’re just not confusing someone else and perhaps delaying the game unnecessarily and still getting the wrong answers.”Several of Taufel’s colleagues on the ICC’s elite panel of umpires have come under fire recently for their decision-making.West Indian umpire Steve Bucknor was axed from India’s Test tour of Australia after being faulted for several decisions during the highly charged second match in Sydney.South African Rudi Koertzen was also criticised after giving Adam Gilchrist out leg before wicket despite television replays showing the Australian deflecting the ball into his pads in the one-day loss to India on Sunday.Nampa-AFP