20th April 2011
I'm so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my hotel room and was in bed before the room was dark.
Muhammad Ali
I am amazed at the use of technology in cricket. If you are not very keen about the fun and frolic that goes on in the spectators' gallery, it is more interesting to watch the match on the television. You can see the replay, you can see the ball spinning in slow motion just in front of your eyes, you can see the direction in which the ball is spinning, you can see the bat coming into contact with the ball in slow motion, you can see the ball getting into the gloves of the wicket keeper, etc., which you cannot see if you are watching the match in person. Of course, these days, there are televisions placed in the spectators' stands.
Take the job of the umpire in the context of this technology application. There was a time when one went by the judgement of the umpire and the umpire is always right. But now? The role of the third umpire has made the job of the umpire really taxing and tough. Think about the anxiety of the umpire not to make a mistake. Consider how much alert and careful the umpire should be in observing what's going on in the crease. He should be as accurate as the powerful video camera and the technologically superior lenses to perform his job effectively and accurately.
I am surprised that more often than not, the field umpire's judgement is upheld by the third umpire. This is a testimony of the superiority of the human talent over the technologically assisted gadgets! A camera assisted umpire can take his own time and review the stroke several times before giving his judgment. But the field umpire should give is decision on the spot instantly! He can only use his mental video camera and judgment to decide.
In LBW decisions, the field umpire should mentally visualise how the ball would travel as it reaches the stumps. He has not methodology to see the ball moving in slow motion which an electronic gadget has got. Nor does he have the time to mentally review and decide.
If you think for a while, the cricketers as a team is a good case study of how one can beat the most sophisticated technologically assisted gadgets!
N C Sridharan
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