Retired International Cricket Council (ICC) umpire Rudi Koertzen reckons the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) will have a telling impact on the forthcoming World Cup in the sub-continent
Retired International Cricket Council (ICC) umpire Rudi Koertzen reckons the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) will have a telling impact on the forthcoming World Cup in the sub-continent. UDRS made its ODI debut during the ongoing seven-match series in Australia.
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"Forget about which country has accepted it or not so far, UDRS will play a big role in the World Cup. It won't give opportunities to captains or the fans to feel hard done by," Koertzen who stood in a record 108 Tests told MiD DAY. "I know that India has opposed the system, but as an umpire who has stood in international cricket for almost two decades, I can safely say that UDRS is one of the best things that have happened to the sport.
It is so nice to open a newspaper and read nothing negative about umpiring, because UDRS is going to get the cheats out of the game.
"We don't want a situation of a batsman nicking the ball and waiting for television replays. Players must trust umpires, but if they don't, they have UDRS to fall back upon. I have faced lot of heat from players over the years, but I stood my ground, because it was my job to make decisions," Koertzen, who is currently overseeing South Africa's umpires during Tests and ODIs added.u00a0
Late English umpire David Shepherd had once said that excessive use of technology would hurt an umpire's ego.
However, Koertzen, who incidentally idolised Shepherd, differs. "Why should I be the only man standing in the middle who doesn't know whether I have got it (a decision) right or wrong? I don't mind getting a decision wrong, and if the technology gets it right. That's okay with me. End of the day, we want the right decisions.
Why should we suffer as an umpire?
"I feel the power of UDRS should be given to umpires instead of players. The umpire must check with the fourth umpire if he is not sure about a decision," added Koertzen.
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