Cyril Mitchley, the first umpire to refer a decision to the third eye, calls for removal of the player factor in DRS as row involving India, Australia rages
Steven Smith (extreme right) walks back to the pavilion after being adjudged LBWâu00c2u0080u00c2u0088during the fourth day’s play in the second India-Australia Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore last Tuesday. Pic/BCCI
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The first international cricket umpire to refer a decision "upstairs", wants to bring the focus down as it were.
Cyril Mitchley
South African Cyril Mitchley, who referred to the third eye for a run out call to be made on Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar way back in 1992, has called for the removal of the player factor in the Decision Review System (DRS) which is at the centre of one of modern cricket's biggest feuds.
The 78-year-old Johannesburg-based retired umpire did not want to comment on the shenanigans in the recent India vs Australia Test at Bangalore, but was clear that players should not play a role in the DRS.
"Give umpires the right to refer cases upstairs. They should be able to say, 'I have a doubt and I would like to check this.' It has to be the umpire who should reach out for technological help — not the bowler, not the batsman — only the umpire," Mitchley told mid-day from Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Umpire's role trimmed
Mitchley reckoned umpires don't have much on their plate like they did in his umpiring days. "All this technology takes away a thing called umpiring. I was against DRS right from the start. I supported India's reluctance to embrace this particular technology because it was not perfect. DRS is still getting it wrong and we are in big trouble," he remarked, pointing to David Warner's leg before decision in Australia's second innings at Bangalore.
"I watched Warner's dismissal on television and that was diabolical; that was a shocker," he said. The Australian opener and vice-captain opted for DRS but it came down to the umpire's call and Warner had to go despite the ball going outside off-stump.
While he wanted umpires to have a big say in the DRS, Mitchley suggested minus points for umpires who end up getting things wrong. "For every bad call, the match referee can make a negative mark against the particular umpire and that according to me is the way to go," he said.
Asked to recall his decision to check with the third eye when it came to adjudicating on Tendulkar's run out in the Durban Test of the 1992-93 series, Mitchley said: "When I called for the replay, I asked myself, 'What are you doing standing in the middle of this ground?' I didn't feel comfortable." Tendulkar played a Brian McMillan delivery to cover point where Rhodes stopped the ball before throwing it to Andrew Hudson at the stumps.
Unprecedented call
"Remember, it was Ali Bacher (South Africa captain-turned Board chief) who introduced this technology. I asked Ali how far down the road did he see technology playing a part and he said it was only for run outs and stumpings. Today, we use technology for everything," said Mitchley.
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