Well, once again a new feature set to make its way in the game of cricket with the International Cricket Council asking TV Umpires to take the job of calling no-balls during the match. Recently, we have witnessed blunders committed by the on-field umpires during the match between Australia and Pakistan at The Gabba.
The ICC will launch a trial in India next month giving the television umpire responsibility for calling no-balls in close to real-time. It is the latest effort to solve the issue of bowlers overstepping the mark. In the 2016 ODI series between England and Pakistan, the system was put into trial but it will be rolled out on a much more comprehensive system this time.
Third umpire is going to call no-balls – ICC
If the trials give satisfactory results, the third umpire first introduced in 1992 just for run-outs could now turn into a very busy person. From now, he needs to watch every delivery for the no-ball apart from DRS duties. It will be tested in the upcoming series between India and West Indies in December.
“Over the next few months, the ICC is going to conduct some trials where the third umpire is going to call no-balls. The first series will be the India-WI T20 and ODI series starting Dec 6,” an ICC spokesman told Hindustan Times.
There have been many incidents in the recent past where on-field umpires have failed to spot a front-foot no-ball. The most noticeable one came in this year’s IPL edition when umpire S. Ravi missed Lasith Malinga overstepping in a game between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore. Later, Virat Kohli called for a strict rule.
Recently, Australia’s notable presenter Channel 7 has released a video of the massive blunder committed by the umpires. As many as 21 No-Balls went unnoticed in a couple of sessions of the Test match between Pakistan and Australia at The Gabba. Perhaps, the latest initiative will help the game get better.
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India vs West Indies 2019International Cricket Council
