Asia Cup 2022: "There Is Nothing Wrong In This": Mickey Arthur Backs Chris Silverwood's Coded Signals

Former Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur believes coded signals give options to the captain according to potential matchups.

Sri Lanka head coach Chris Silverwood, along with the computer analyst, has been using these codes in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022.

There is nothing wrong in this: Mickey Arthur on Coded Signals

Coded Signals have drawn a lot of criticism from the cricket community including commentators and former players. It is assumed that the signals coming from the dugout make the captain puppet to the coach’s command in the middle of the game.

“Those are signals that keep and give the captain options, that’s all. You remind the captain of potential matchups and give him an option. It is then upto the captain whether he wants to use them or not,” Arthur was quoted as saying by Deccan Chronicle.

“There’s nothing wrong in this, and no rocket science,” he added.

It’s up to the captain to make a call: Grant Flower

Former Zimbabwe player and former Sri Lankan batting coach Grant Flower said it is very much left to the captain whether to implement the coded message into his plans or not.

“I am not sure how their system works but I imagine that it is a signal telling them which bowler to the bowl and when. Then it’s up to the captain to make a call,” Flower said.

It’s worth noting that Mickey Arthur never used such codes while he was Sri Lanka’s head coach from 2019 to 2021.
Coded signals were being used by England in the T20I series in South Africa in 2020. Back then Chris Silverwood was the coach of the England National Side.

Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders (IPL) was seen using such coded signals in this year’s IPL. Signals were displayed by English Analyst Nathan Leamon along with the head coach Brendon McCullum which was rebuked by former players and commentators.

In an era where technology has taken the prime role in cricket, it looks like coded signals provide an added option to the fielding captain.

However, it might prove to be a curse if the coach forces a captain to rigidly follow these signals coming from the dugout ignoring the real game situations.

Also Read: SL vs BAN: ‘There Is No Rocket Science’: Sri Lanka Coach Chris Silverwood Clarifies His Stand Behind Coded Messages