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A strange call for SC Umpires in SC conditions

AndyZaltzHair

Hall of Fame Member
Watching this ongoing test match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan has been kind of painful due to some controversial decisions and repeated frustrations (from a neutral point of view). Now when Rameez Raza came to commentary box after Younus Khan's horrible decision when the ball clearly edged before wrapping up onto pads, he suggested of using Sub Continent umpires to officiate Sub Continent matches let it be Home Umpires or not. His theory more or less was that Sub Continent Umpires are more used to umpiring when the ball's gripping, turning, edging and constant screaming from fielders sorrounding batsman. So SC Umpires might have better observations and would be less under pressure than someone from overboard.

So what do you guys think? Is it a strange call or Rameez has some really valid points? Mind you, there are only three umpires from SC in Elite Panel.
 
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Senile Sentry

International Debutant
I feel there is merit in Rameez's observations. Although I would expect an elite umpire to do basic minimum homework about the conditions and the pitch prior to officiating in a test match.

Recall that quite a lot of errors of judgement were made by Asad Rauf while officiating in Australia, where he adjudged a few lbws without figuring in the natural bounce of the wicket there. Despite best preparations, the moment of judgement calls for a bit of intuition and more often that not it is prone to being clouded a wee bit by upbringing.
 

Burgey

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Think we should have Aussie umpires here because they're used to the ball bouncing above waist height and the fielding side sledging the batsmen.
 

zaremba

Cricketer Of The Year
Quite. And only English umpires should be able to stand in English conditions where their brains are impaired by the freezing conditions and their vision impeded by persistent mist and drizzle.

What a ridiculously bad idea.

The umpires' job is to work out what the ball is doing - did it pitch outside leg? Is it going on to hit the stumps? Did it hit the edge of the bat? Making a decision of that sort is the same exercise wherever you're standing. The laws of physics don't change as soon as one steps onto Sri Lankan soil.
 

smash84

The Tiger King
Quite. And only English umpires should be able to stand in English conditions where their brains are impaired by the freezing conditions and their vision impeded by persistent mist and drizzle.

What a ridiculously bad idea.

The umpires' job is to work out what the ball is doing - did it pitch outside leg? Is it going on to hit the stumps? Did it hit the edge of the bat? Making a decision of that sort is the same exercise wherever you're standing. The laws of physics don't change as soon as one steps onto Sri Lankan soil.
haha....awta
 

uvelocity

International Coach
I'm sure theres an element of normalcy bias that occurs when an ump makes a decision (bounce, turn etc)

But it's better than thoughts of proper bias.
 

grecian

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Pretty crap that there is no DRS for this series.
Yep, it's all very well saying they can't afford it, but if not the ICC should step in. Make's their precious Test Championship look two-bob, if certain teams can't get the same officiating.
 

TNT

Banned
Yep, it's all very well saying they can't afford it, but if not the ICC should step in. Make's their precious Test Championship look two-bob, if certain teams can't get the same officiating.
Where does the ICC get the money from to pay for the DRS.
 

hazsa19

International Regular
Umpiring can't be too different to playing in terms of getting used to conditions. It's ridiculous the way they fly elite umpires all over the world to Umpire in one Test Match or a couple of odi's with no real time to prepare.

2 or 3 Umpires should remain in place for the entirety of a tour, and take in in turns to sit one out as a 3rd Umpire.
 

Cabinet96

Global Moderator
The umpires, IIRC, in the Pakistan v England series, weren't from the SC, and they did a superb job. I think it's just unfortunate tbh. If the DRS was in place they'd be no need for this discussion.

It's almost as if a review system to overturn bad decisions doesn't exist.
Haha, indeed.
 

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