JOHANNESBURG: With the controversies of the latest series against Australia still fresh in his mind, South African cricket coach Mickey Arthur on Tuesday welcomed the prospect of increased technological involvement in the next series.
Arthur was reacting to news that the International Cricket Council (ICC) board was discussing the issue at its two-day quarterly meeting in Dubai, which started Tuesday.
The ICC said that if it deemed it appropriate, the board would nominate four series for further trials of the system between now and the meeting of the ICC’s cricket committee in April and May next year.
It said the intention of the further trials was to provide exposure to the system for as many match referees, umpires and players as possible ahead of a decision on whether it should be implemented permanently. One of the designated series is SA’s away and home series against Australia.
Others are England’s visit to India and India’s tour of Pakistan. Those are followed by England’s home Ashes series against Australia in the second part of next year.
SA’s latest series against Australia was punctuated by fielding controversies, with catches by Andrew Hall at mid-wicket and a low catch at gully by Australia’s Matthew Hayden creating a furore.
“My view has always been that you cannot go halfway,” said Arthur. “If you are going to use technology, then you must go the whole hog and use it for everything.
“I was against it in the beginning because I felt that it spoilt the spirit of cricket a bit. But now that it is here, I think they must use it for all the situations it can be used in.
“We had some quite nasty situations last time around and if increased use of technology can eliminate those, I am all for it.”
NEWS BY APAKISTANNEWS
