Bucknor accuses TV crews of misusing technology on umpiring decisions

[Alison]

I've just found this story on Cricinfo, it strikes me as a very serious allegation and I find it extremely disturbing to think that what is shown on the tv screens may be manipulated to make us believe that an umpiring decision is wrong. It's even more disturbing to think that the umpires might be given false or manipulated images in order to influence their decisions, particularly in light of the ICC's latest idea (allowing teams to appeal against umpiring decisions)

What do other people think? Is it likely to be true? And if it's not, why would Bucknor come out with such a serious claim?

[Maranello]

Originally Posted by Alison

What do other people think? Is it likely to be true? And if it's not, why would Bucknor come out with such a serious claim?

A very good question - this is why there must be some truth in this; Bucknor would not place his name on the line if that were not the case. In any case, if I had to choose between the word of the most experienced Test umpire and a bunch of TV boys or graphics' monkeys, I would go for the former every single time. In fact, I'd trust all ten members of the Elite panel over and above any TV company or national cricket board and this why I find these comments very worrying - such manipulation of images, though not cheating as it does not impact the match in the middle, is still devious and wrong.

[Alison]

What really concerns me is the question of is this manipulation just in the shots that are shown to tv viewer, or can/do the tv companies manipulate what the 3rd umpires see?

[Ernest]

Steve Bucknor is an umpire I respect - not sure the tv images are being manipulated, but if there is any room for doubt, then the big replay screen, and the screen for the 3rd umpire must be suspended while Bucknor's claims are investigated.

I doubt foul play, but also have respect for Steve Bucknor, so really I don't have an opinion on who's right, because I don't know.

I think not though would be a good time to give the game back to the umpires - the players and the paying public, and leave out the replays and go back to the days when the umpire made the decission, and that was final, and applied to both sides.

[Occasional Fan]

Originally Posted by Alison

Can/do the tv companies manipulate what the 3rd umpires see?

I can't say whether they do manipulate what the third umpire sees, but certainly they can. In fact, the TV company has total control over what the umpire sees. The ICC playing regulations make provisions for placement of cameras at certain positions on and around the ground - the broadcaster who has the rights for the test or ODI in question has to provide those angles as a condition of its licence - but whether the broadcaster deems the quality of footage to be worthy of showing to the umpire is ultimately its decision - even if the umpire asks for a particular view, which I believe he can through his link to the producer, the producer won't show it if he feels there is nothing to show (as Bucknor suggests).

As regards the big screen, I have seen it in use at a few games now, but in all cases it has been blacked out while the third umpire is reviewing a decision - you can see the replays at home, but not in the ground. I think this is to stop crowds influencing umpiring decisions. Only after the decision has been made are crowds in the grounds shown the replays (at least in the grounds I have been to: I believe this might also be an ICC requirement).

[Occasional Fan]

Lots of interesting stuff on umpiring issues in the papers for the last couple of days. I'm with Bird and Selvey on the issue of appeals against umpires' decisions, I have to say. I simply don't understand how allowing appeals against the umpires' decisions cannot undermine the field umpires. On the subject raised at the top of this thread, my sympathies are more with Bucknor than with the ICC.

Discussion between Bird and Woolmer on appealing against the umpires in yesterday's Guardian here.

Mike Selvey, following up on the debate in today's Guardian here.

And comment from the ICC aimed at Steve Bucknor here.