|
Written by Jonathan
|
|
Tuesday, 21 November 2006 |
|
West Indies vs Pakistan 2nd Test (Day 3) Lara
196 not out
Brian Lara's latest
epic is now shutting the door on all speculation as to the greatest batsman the
modern game has seen and yet I ponder on the numerous erroneous (and critical)
decisions that have gone against him through his Test career - at times to
global condemnation, but no redress. An average of 53 could have been 60
and an appalling team win-loss record perhaps less so.
No batsman at virtually
any level of cricket (or for any ball game for that matter) can claim to have
never felt aggrieved by an ump call. The lines and zones and numerous
by-laws that must all, and always, be commutated in split seconds by the human
mind pretty much ensures a mistake will be made.
Well what to do. Well...what everyone else has been
doing globally in their respective games and that is, the installation of
appropriate technology (once perfected) to ensure a fair decision is derived.
How can this be a bad idea.
Paradigm shifts make for numerous social theses and has been more note-worthy
than the implementation of technology in sports. From boxing to winter
x-games there has always been the immediate (knee-jerk?) installation of a
human decider only to face gradual removal as the professional (and
high-stakes) demands of the sport are pared down to its essential contest: the
battle between the foes decided accurately by the respective rules.
The guiding gentleman's philosophy of most commonwealth-originated games e.g.
football, tennis and yes, cricket has had to make belated way for accuracy as,
quite simply, livelihoods now depend on getting decisions right - all the time.
And the spectator (a.k.a. the bottom line) has looong demanded this.
While football remains largely contextual and simple to administer, tennis has
made great strides in technological implementation now offering players the
right to query and video-review calls as well as wide umpiring discretion
regarding technological assistance.
Cricket's embrace of the microchip has been painful and ultimately
embarrassing. Perhaps an ICC PR campaign to 'liberate' umpires from
existing shackles or a proactive umpire-led wish-listing of technological
assistance shall provide the diplomatic out in what is fast becoming a farcical
game of 'you first'.
Either way, an out is urgently required and Brian is waiting.
|
