Technology in cricket has often been the central point of talking and debates over the years. While once fancies the evolution, the other sticks to tradition, refsuing to accept the innovation by pointing out it’s flaws.
One such technology has been the Decision Review System (DRS), which has seen split opinions over the years. The one major factor in DRS that makes the debates even more intellectual and intense is the ‘Umpire’s Call’ decision,
While technology has it’s say in modern cricket, it also leaves a provision for an amount of respect for the on-field umpires.
The Decision Review System (DRS) was introduced in 2009. It allows players to challenge the on-field umpire’s decision if they’re not satisfied. Once a challenge is made, the TV umpire reviews the decision using available technology and gives the final verdict.
In Leg Before Wicket (LBW) decisions, Hawk-Eye plays a crucial role by showing where the ball pitched, where it hit the pad, and whether it’s hitting the stumps. Once the ‘umpire’s call’ decision reflects on the big screen, then the decision stays with whatever the on-field umpire had earlier signalled (OUT/NOT OUT).
Sometimes, this creates a feeling of unjust or disagreement, but every coin has two sides. Therefore, technology carries it’s own set of pros & cons.
Many cricket experts and pundits believe that new rules or updates should be introduced to make the decision-making process more accurate and consistent.
“I think the umpire’s call should not be there in case of pitching and impact. We can all see where the ball was pitched or where it impacted, so the Umpire’s call is of no use. It is either outside or in line. In case of hitting, there should be a 75% 25% law. If less than 25% of the ball hits the wicket, it should not be out,” said Harsha Bhogle on Cricbuzz.
“One thing I don’t agree with, with the ICC, is the DRS they have been using for quite some time. It is the LBW decision where more than 50 per cent of the ball must be hitting the stumps for the on-field decision to be overturned. What percent of the ball hits the stumps doesn’t matter; if DRS shows us that the ball is hitting the stumps, it should be given out, regardless of the on-field call,” said Sachin Tendulkar on his X.
“Hawkeye can never be 100% accurate, and its results remain open to debate. The system has a margin of error, and sometimes, projections aren’t conclusive. The third umpire must have a “high degree of confidence” to overrule the umpire. My suggestion for DRS is that after ball tracking if the ball hits more than 50% of the stumps, it should be given out; if it hits less than 50%, it should be not out. Additionally, I recommend removing the ‘Umpire’s Call’ for pitching impact, as the system should rely purely on the accuracy of technology to make decisions, ensuring fairness and clarity,” said Akash Chopra on his YouTube channel.
“According to me, the umpire’s call is creating a lot of confusion right now. When a batsman gets bowled, they don’t expect the ball to hit more than 50 per cent of the stumps to consider themselves out, as even a clipping of the stumps would dislodge the bails. From basic cricketing sense, there should be no debate on this: if the ball is shown to be clipping the stumps, it should be out. Whether you like it or not, you lose the review. The game should be simple – either the ball hits the stumps, or it doesn’t – and the extent to which it hits shouldn’t matter, as the current approach is unnecessarily confusing,” said Nasser Hussain on Sky Sports.
Nasser Hussain on how umpires call work https://t.co/dsk0s6Fd68 pic.twitter.com/FidNpJgrEm
‘Umpire’s Call’ decisions often make a crucial difference in matches. One of the most game-defining moments came during the 2023 World Cup Final, when Marnus Labuschagne was not given out by the on-field umpire. India opted for a review, and the replays showed the ball just clipping the stumps.
However, since it was deemed as ‘Umpire’s Call’, the original decision stood, and Labuschagne remained not out. This incident sparked widespread debate about the fairness of the umpire’s call rule, especially in high-stakes matches like a World Cup Final.
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