Cricket: Questions over umpire referral trial

New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum swings and apparently misses, although judged out by a...
New Zealand batsman Brendon McCullum swings and apparently misses, although judged out by a referral to the third umpire during the final day of the second test against the West Indies in Napier yesterday.
New Zealand and the West Indies will raise concerns about the umpiring referral trial to the International Cricket Council.

New Zealand wants the television technology available to umpires to be expanded after wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum was given out caught behind by one of the on-field umpires, Rudi Koertzen, and third umpire Mark Benson despite replays detecting no contact between bat and ball.

McCullum's departure for 19 ended New Zealand's quest for 312 for the win, 92 short when the second and final test ended nine overs early.

New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, who expressed reservations about the system after the first drawn test in Dunedin last week, suggested technology to detect edges - "Snicko" and the "Hot Spot" - should be made available to prevent a repeat of McCullum's dismissal.

"It was clear he didn't hit it," Vettori said of the McCullum decision.

"If you're going to go upstairs [to the third umpire] you should give the umpires as much technology as they can have.

"Hot spot seems to be the best one I've seen in my time - you couple that with Snicko and the naked eye and you'd think you'd get the decisions right 100% of the time."

West Indies coach John Dyson agreed.

"I think if the feeling about technology like "Snicko" is very good, that should be another tool given to the umpires to make the decisions.

"Sometimes the eyes and the cameras don't pick everything up."

There were seven referrals in the first test and 12 in the second, including seven on the final afternoon as the West Indies tried to ensure New Zealand would not threaten the winning target.

McCullum was the prime target for the tourists - he survived challenges to an ambitious leg before wicket appeal on seven and another caught behind call on nine in which Benson correctly decided there was no contact.

The West Indies also had a rejected leg before wicket decision against Ross Taylor referred unsuccessfully.

Vettori felt three unsuccessful challenges available per innings allowed captains to try their luck, as he did when counterpart Chris Gayle survived an optimistic leg before wicket appeal 55 runs into his game-saving 197.

"If we're looking to rid the game of the obvious wrong decisions then it has to be brought back to one [challenge] in my opinion."

Dyson said he felt two challenges would be fairer.

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