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Cricket in the 21st century is now a profession and not a hobby any more! We do know when the game was first played in the middle of the nineteenth century it was done more for enjoyment and as a hobby and a method to get together with friends and family rather than a competitive sport.
No wonder the modern players tend to think that the game of cricket has grown to a position where it’s an absolute test of skill and ability and not something you could dismiss as only a mere game. If one were to speak to any current cricketer they would be of the opinion that the game of cricket has become harder in every aspect of it. To start with the batting has gone in to a new level and even the bats used today are so different to what we had seen. The bowlers they feel, are far more skilled and definitely faster. The fielding levels have improved immensely. Whilst in the past you would talk of a Colin Bland or Clive Lloyd or even a Derek Randall, the current fielders would be as good or even better as every version of the game has seen a tremendous change for the better.
 In that scenario the success of a cricketer’s career would naturally depend on his performance and as such the game has attempted to minimize the errors it has encountered. We do know that umpiring mistakes aren’t uncommon and have been an age old problem. Whilst some of them were considered to be genuine the others were thought to be deliberate and generally favouring the home team. Hence the third Umpire’s concept which was initiated and engineered by our own Mahinda Wijesinghe the well known and respected journalist was a definite step in the right direction and with it the elite panel was also introduced. The ICC then expanded on it further and after much deliberation the UDRS or the Umpires Decision Review System was born. And the world hailed it and cricketers breathed a sigh of relief to the fact that finally an opportunity of minimizing mistakes was in place.
Of course there were a few other schools of thoughts too! And these were to say that the very character of the game could be lost and also very soon we may not have on field umpires with the players appealing to somebody in a comfortable AC box who would decide after looking at a few TV replays. Such possibilities still do exist and it could be the case eventually. But speaking to the current player’s as well as the international umpires one must concede that the UDRS is universally accepted amongst them and they would wish to see it being continued with come what may! If that’s how much the system is in demand what could be the logic in not using it in the current series? Firstly it is a known secret that the Sri Lankan camp under Jayawardane used the system better when they beat India in 2008 and the count was 11 to 3 on decisions reviewed in Sri Lanka’s favour! And one wonders whether that was the cause for India not to want it implemented during this series!
But what does the regulation say? It is said that if either country is opposed to implement the system in a series then it can’t be used! I would say that the regulation confirms the ICC’s status in certain issues which is that, they are akin to a toothless tiger! And the very fact that the ICC has left the decision in the hands of the two teams on using the system or not is a confirmation of it. And this is exactly what took place during the current series! I believe Sri Lanka Cricket did it correctly when they agreed to use the system during the current series and did indicate same to the ICC and also to India.
It is also known that the matter was discussed at ICC meetings at length and all countries with the exception of India had agreed to have it. Worse still Sri Lanka did write to India requesting to have the system in place for the current tour and it was turned down sighting reasons of “not believing in it and also as the financial cost was too high”. Now this brings me to the question as to whether the ICC is controlled by one nation or the committee in place to run it. And is it India that is having all this power? We have to accept the fact that India is the most sought after team and the one that could give you the most revenue from TV rights! That is no doubt a huge positive factor for the overall benefit of cricket, but the question that begs an answer is can that be the bargaining chip of India to veto anything and everything they don’t accept?
I believe it is time the authorities running cricket at the world stage which is the ICC put their foot down and stick to the principals and policies which have been agreed upon to implement after much research and thought. Or otherwise does cricket pay the price and stifle its advancement at the whims and fancies of just one nation?
Back to the current series millions watching it on Television will agree that there were quite a few marginal decisions turned downed by the umpires which could have easily been over turned had the UDRS been in place. The Ten Sports Commentary Team which includes respected names definitely was of the said view and Tony Greg in particular was to strongly express his views for not having the system in place currently. And in the third Test too the Indians had a few that could have been referred to the umpires. But the attitude and the stubbornness of one country has deprived the world of a system which both the players and the umpires are comfortable with and in most people’s opinion the way to go forward. Over to the ICC for the necessary action!
The ball is definitely in the court of the ICC! Are they going to take the lead here and play it by the laid down rule or will they merely be distracted by the potential India has for them financially? I believe it is time the ICC wakes up to reality and make a call on it or we would have more than the ICC controlling the game which will only make it poorer!
* Roshan Abeysinghe is a leading cricket promoter and an international cricket commentator |
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