Bowden critical of new technology

Published September 29, 2004

AUCKLAND, Sept 28: Five-day Tests would be a thing of the past if cricket made greater use of technology to rule on dismissals, New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden said on Tuesday.

He said increased use of video replays and third umpires to judge lbws (leg before wicket decisions) and catches behind would destroy one of cricket's central principals - that batsmen should always have the benefit of the doubt.

"For lbws for example, what good is technology?" Bowden said, citing a sophisticated video replay system called Hawkeye. "Are we going to use Hawkeye? ... If we do there won't be any more four- or five-day Test matches, they'd be one-or two-day Test matches." -Agencies

Opinion

Editorial

A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...
GB polls’ aftermath
Updated 11 Jun, 2026

GB polls’ aftermath

The new administration must address the region’s issues proactively.
Peace in retreat
11 Jun, 2026

Peace in retreat

THE ceasefire announced in April was supposed to create space for negotiations. Instead, it has been repeatedly...
A few good men
11 Jun, 2026

A few good men

IT was a brave move, no doubt. This Tuesday, in the land of the Afghan Taliban, a few good men decided to take a...