1. Introduction
1.1 Cricket
Cricket is a bat and ball sport. A typical cricket game has 11 players in each team. The centre of the field is a rectangular area of 22 meters called a pitch. Three wooden sticks called stumps are placed inside each crease with two bails on top each. A batsman stands on the pitch in front of the wickets on one crease, and tries to hit the ball that a bowler throws towards him. His partner stands in the other crease waiting for his turn. Aim of the batsman is to hit the ball to make as many as runs he can, while the aim of the bowler is to get the batsman out while giving away the least runs possible. (Varney, 1999)
1.1.2 History of Cricket
The game of cricket has a well known and well documented history, starting from around the 16th century to the present day. The firmest, though still not pictorial evidence is an illustration apparently of a man demonstrating a stroke with a stump to a boy holding a straight club and a ball that was illuminated in England.(Littlewood,2007)
The first international match was played in 1844, between the United States of America (U.S.A) and Canada, although the official history of International Test Cricket only began in 1877. This game was played between England and Australia. (Microsoft Encarta, 2001).
1.2 International Cricket Council
The International Cricket Council is the world cricket’s governing body. It was founded in the 1909 with England, Australia and South Africa as the founding members. Currently ICC has 10 Full Member countries (having test status) which include Australia, Bangladesh, England & Wales, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Zimbabwe. ICC also has 35 Associate members and 60Affiliate members.
1.3 Umpires
A cricket match is controlled by two Umpires on-field. He has the authority to make judgments on the field. “Before the match, two umpires shall be appointed, one for each end, to control the game as required by the laws, with absolute impartiality.”(The Laws of Cricket 2000 Code4thEdition-2010,MCC,p.13).Besides making decisions about legality of delivery, appeals for wickets and general conduct of the game in a legal manner, the umpire also keeps a record of the deliveries and announces the completion of an over .Umpiring requires a blend of skills and attributes. It includes concentration, good eye sight and hearing, physical and mental fitness and consistency apart from sound knowledge of laws. (Tomsmith, 2004).
In International matches, the umpires are appointed by the ICC. The umpires are categorized in to three panels of ICC. Elite Panel, International Panel and Associate & Affiliate Panel. The Elite Panel of ICC Umpires comprises the top umpires in the world. To ensure the highest possible standards and guarantee impartial adjudication, two umpires from the Emirates Elite Panel stand in almost all Test matches around the world, while one member stands with a home umpire from the International Panel of ICC Umpires for One-Day International matches.
In an International match, ICC appoints two on field umpires, One Third Umpire (TV Umpire) and a Fourth Umpire.
1.3.1 Duties of Umpires
The two On-field umpires control the game on the field according to the laws and playing conditions. The Third Umpire was brought into cricket to adjudicate on Run Out and Stumping appeals using TV replays. This has now been expanded by the ICC to include Boundaries and Catches. Now the third umpire is also assisting the on field umpires to review their decisions using technology, which is known as Umpires Decision Review System (UDRS). The primary focus of the Fourth umpire is to support the endeavors of the other Umpires and Match Referee as they go about their own duties as well as ground / pitch management issues.
1.4 Technology in Cricket
Technology is vastly used in cricket broadcasting to enhance viewing pleasure of Television audience. Different technologies are using by the producers to analyze various aspects of cricket including analysis of decisions of umpires, tracking ball, action of bowlers and shots played by the batsmen.
The technology is first introduced in decision making in November 1992 at Durban for the South Africa vs India series where ICC deployed Third Umpire to adjudge Run Out and Stumping. Currently multiple technologies are using in the review of umpires decision (UDRS). It includes Hawk-Eye, Hot Spot, Snicko Meter and Slow, Ultra Motion replays and Stump Microphones.
1.5 Umpire Decision Review System
The Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) is a new system introduced in International cricket by the ICC to reduce the umpiring errors in decision making, with the assistance of technology.
This system helps the umpires to review their decisions if there is any doubt for either team in a decision regarding dismissal of a batsman. The system is first introduced in Test cricket in experimental basis and was then deployed in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.
The DRS includes:
a) Umpire Review: The on-field umpire shall be entitled to refer an appeal for a Run Out, Stumping or Hit wicket to the Third Umpire. On field umpires can even seek the assistance from Third Umpire in the event of an appeal for a ‘Caught behind’, whether the catch is clean and taken from a bump ball and also in cases of ‘Boundary decisions’ and ‘Batsmen running to the same end’.
b) Player Review: A player may request a review of any decision taken by the on-field umpires concerning whether or not a batsman is dismissed, with the exception of ‘Time Out’. The request should be made by the player making a ‘T’ sign with both the forearms at head height. The total time elapsed between the ball becoming dead and the review request being made should be no more than a few seconds. Each team is allowed to make two unsuccessful Player Review request per innings.
1.5.1 Use of Technology
The following technology may be used by the third umpire
1) Slow Motion replays from all available cameras.
2) Super Slow Motion replays from all available cameras.
3) Ultra Motion camera replays from all available cameras.
4) Sound from the stump microphones with the replays at normal speed and slow motion.
5) Approved ball tracking technology.
6) The mat, generated by the provider of ball tracking technology, not by the broadcaster.
7) Hot Spot Cameras.
1.6 Media
Media used by the researcher to analyze the coverage of news regarding Umpire Decision Review System includes Newspapers and Websites. The researcher analyzed news articles in newspapers and websites from 2009 to 2011.
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