South African ICL players call for use of more technology

The South African players who participated in the inaugural tournament of the breakaway Indian Cricket League last year have come out in support of increased use of television umpires.

Commenting on the current situation in Australia about allegations of unfair decisions against India , the players said the use of technology in the ICL series had put umpires to the test with positive results.

Umpires in the ICL games could ask the television umpire to check on borderline cases before making a decision.

Darryl Cullinan, who coached the Kolkata Tigers, told the Afrikaans daily Beeld here that the system had worked surprisingly well: "The umpires were in radio contact with each other and the decisions did not take long to finalise."

"The technology is getting better all the time and if one looks at the technology being used in Australia , it is high time that it is implemented elsewhere too."

Australian television uses infrared technology to determine whether the ball has hit the bat, gloves or pads.

Nicky Boje, who played for Hyderabad Heroes, was also supportive of the process, but called for consistency: "The one problem was that the umpires did not apply it consistently - they would ask for it in one game and then not in the next."

Chandigarh Lions player Andrew Hall said the system helped umpires make the right decisions.

"If one looks at what happened in the test between India and Australia , technology could have helped calm tempers," Hall said.

"I think nine of ten times when there is an altercation on the field; it is because of a poor decision. The fielding team is then angered and takes it out on the batsman. If you get the right decision, you eliminate those emotions."

Source : http://www.kalingatimes.com/