The umpire is a part of the game; many fans of cricket have a 'favorite' umpire also. Umpires have to be careful that they don't overshadow the game. I think some umpires can help a game .

David Shepherd does a jig at 111/222/nelson due to superstition

Another umpire signals eccentrically.

Which cricket fan won't be moved at the last test of Umpire Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India). (He's due to retire soon I think)

Which fan didn't shed a tear when Harold 'Dickie' bird retired?

But no umpire, player , commentator , fan or administrator is bigger than the game itself. That's what people go to watch, the game.

People always question referee's or umpires decisions. look at Fooball. England whent out of Euro 2004 due to a 'dodgy' refereeing decision. But they also won the '66 world cup due to a 'dodgy' refereeing decision.

Big screens have been used at some sporting venues with notable sucess (wimbeldon and Henman Hill/Rusedski ridge!)
However, They don't have a big screen on court. I think cricket should go the same way. A big screen could be placed in a marquee, or bar, and those who want to watch the TV replays can do so. Imagine 'Bradman bar' or 'Cowdrey club' or 'tendulkar tent'
Having a big screen as part of an electronic scoreboard , or as a stand alone device,in full view of the crowd, is detrimental to the game.

Tv replays are benificial to the analysis of the game, and when a wicket falls it makes it easier for fans and commentators to see who caught the ball/threw the ball/scored the six. And It's used now in every ICC game and has become part of the rules. That is fine. Let the 3rd umpire decide from frame by frame analysis on Run outs and line decisions.
But showing an ugly crowd the umpire was wrong serves no purpose. Umpires will make mistakes, they are only human. This is why I strongly feel that they should be given as much of the picture as possible.


The appeal is a trditional part of the game. But I've seen some bowlers appeal EVERY ball in an over and nearly Every ball in a spell. This just puts pressure on a batsmen and umpire.

I'd like to see Umpires resort to the penalty five runs if they feel appealing is excessive (perhaps after having warned the captain and bowler twice). I'd also like umpires to warn players who kick the ball (when pitching outside leg) away that 'the spirit of the game' is at risk .

In cricket the umpire has no real power.
He/she can
Adjudicate on the legality of a ball.
Warn players for running on the pitch and stop a bowler bowling after warning twice.
Give his/her opinion after an appeal.
Award 5 runs in extreme circumstances.

Virtually every other team sport ref can send a player off if warranted. Umpires can't do that.

I'd like cricket to have a discipline system for excessive appealing or slow over rate or unsportman like behaviour which becomes applicable during play rather than after the event. 5 runs goes some way, but a sin bin or yellow card could be interesting.The captain is responsible for the spirit of the game. At present as a player I can behave in a really unpleasant way,( swearing, threatening with the ball, sledging, appealing each time, bowling so slowly that the opposition run out of time to score the runs,etc) should I feel like it, and there aint much you can do.( the same I suppose, when it's your innings) I've seen captains threaten umpires at the highest level in cricket, but the umpire could only 'make a report' after the event.
This has to stop. NOW.

So. Yes to hawkeye . Yes to big screens in appropriate places. Yes To better cricket behaviour.(by fans and players alike)

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Admin - Link to original thread in the England forum: Hawk Eye
Nominated by Zainub Razvi.

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I have a dream.... (Martin Luther King)