'Inconsistent' review system prompts grizzles

BY SAM WORTHINGTON
Last updated 05:00 22/03/2010

Bollinger bags more Black Caps

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The umpire decision review system is again under the microscope with the New Zealand camp frustrated by two incidents at the Basin Reserve yesterday.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori went out of his way to talk to match referee Javagal Srinath in the innings break – presumably to discuss the contentious dismissal of Tim Southee.

The New Zealand tailender was adjudged caught behind off Mitchell Johnson when there was daylight between bat and ball, but despite seeking a referral the on-field verdict stood.

Srinath played down his meeting with Vettori as a "casual chat" but New Zealand coach Mark Greatbatch had a few grizzles.

"The system at the moment, it's a little bit inconsistent," Greatbatch said.

"We just asked the question whether the system in place at the moment is consistent, and the match referee said 'yes' so we'll get on with it. I'm not sure whether the technology they've got there is good enough as far as the frames per second.

"The ICC say they're getting more decisions right, from 95 to 98 percent so I suppose you can't argue with that. I suppose if it's improving decision-making then it's a good thing."

New Zealand opener BJ Watling also sought a review after being adjudged lbw to Doug Bollinger for 33.

The ball was shown to have pitched in line with leg stump but only after a long delay and several replays where the shaded area representing the line of the stumps failed to appear on the screen.

"With BJ Watling, I don't think they had the actual technology they were looking for, as accurate as they could," Greatbatch said.

Umpire Ian Gould was also shown up for missing two no-balls from Ryan Harris which claimed wickets. Tim McIntosh had to trudge off for nine in the first innings despite Harris over-stepping but Brendon McCullum successfully overturned his decision when on nought.

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- © Fairfax NZ News

5 comments
Post a comment
johnny utah   #5   02:06 pm Mar 22 2010

i blame lara bingle

Alan   #4   09:31 am Mar 22 2010

I'm sorry guys but you can whinge and moan about the referral system all you like but it doesn't change the fact that the NZ cricket team is at least 3 leagues below the Australian team in the longer form of the game.

If I was really cynical I would suggest that this is being raised to deflect attention from what was yet another piss poor effort from the NZ team.

Frustrated Kiwi   #3   09:30 am Mar 22 2010

Playing the poor victim yet again, when are we going to learn... Stop looking at ways you lost and start looking at ways you can win. If the Black Caps spent more time and energy focusing on the faults in their own game which got them into such vulnerable positions in the first place then they would not be facing another embarrassing defeat - or will the weather come to their rescue yet again....

KJ   #2   08:46 am Mar 22 2010

Despite the issues with the technology it has been an embarrassing display so fare from the Blackcaps, both in the one dayers and test. How do I explain to my 9 year old that he needs to play straight and technically correct when he sees Ross Taylor slog across the line time and time again and hole out ? How do I get him to understand he needs to be patient and disciplined ? The lack of application and spine the Blackcaps have shown is unbelievable. Former players played for the love of the game and gave their wickets away dearly yet the millionaire playboys of the modern era seem to think 24 runs off 25 balls is ok. I am struggling to keep watching at the moment.

Chris   #1   08:40 am Mar 22 2010

Is it possible the umpires are intimidated by the Aussies? The majority of bad decisions seem to go in Australia's favour so maybe there's a case there. Or is it just a case of siding with the better team? NZ got some dodgy calls in their favour against Bangladesh, so maybe it's simply a case of erring the calls on the side of the better team, maybe the umpires see this as safer somehow. It would be nice to have an umpire explain their thinking on why this occurs so often, but being NZ, honesty would not be allowed by anyone involved, so we'll have to keep wondering and put up with imcompetence.

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