January 06, 2008	Sunday	Zilhaj 26, 1428

SYDNEY, Jan 5: World cricket chief Malcolm Speed has foreshadowed a crackdown on players’ on-field petulance and an appeals system for contentious umpiring decisions in wake of several poor decisions from two of game’s most experienced officials – match referee Mike Procter and umpire Steve Bucknor.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it would not lodge a complaint about performance of 61-year-old Bucknor during the Sydney Test, despite its disenchantment with several vital decisions.

“We are not making any protest or anything like that,” team spokesman M.K. Sridhar said.

However, poor standard of international umpiring has moved 10 Test-playing countries to reconsider an appeals system at next ICC board meeting in March.

A trial was proposed two years ago, under which batting or fielding side could challenge three decisions each by referring them to third umpire. However, third umpire would have at his disposal only television replays from different angles, rather than imperfect Hawk-Eye and ‘Snicko’ technology.

If approved by a majority of ICC members, a trial of system similar to that used in tennis would go ahead at September’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

When chairmen of Test nations voted on proposal in 2006, Australia and Pakistan were among five nations opposing, but Cricket Australia indicated it was open to ICC proposal.

“We didn’t support it last time, and our position at the moment is that we’re comfortable with status quo. But if ICC has proposals for new directions, we are happy to have a look at them with open mind,” CA spokesman Peter Young said.

Speed sensed a change in mood of member nations. “It may be possible now to trial this system allowing players to appeal umpires’ decision,” he said. “We would do that in limited-overs cricket rather than Tests to see how it works.”ICC chief executive would not comment on performance of Bucknor other than to say umpire was “nearing end of his career” after he wrongly spared Andrew Symonds despite a thick edge to keeper on 30. Long after Symonds had gone on to post his century, Bucknor failed to refer a close stumping chance.

Previous technology trials have proved helpful in cases of “obvious glaring error”, or to judge whether ball pitched outside leg stump, but inconclusive for decisions such as fine edges.—Agencies