Technology should support but not replace decision-making, says Simon Taufel

SportsCafe Desk
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Simon Taufel has stated that technology should be there to aid umpires in the decision-making process but not go on to replace their responsibility. A former ICC Elite Umpire Panel member, Taufel was considered to be the best umpire on the International arena when he was in his prime.

Famous for his accuracy while umpiring, Simon Taufel had received five consecutive ICC best umpire of the year Trophies from years 2004 to 2008. Taufel retired from umpiring back in the year 2012 after ICC T20 World Cup that year. And the Australian has expressed that the recent advancements of technology and their usage in umpiring should be limited to improving the decision making rather than replacing the decision makers themselves.

“Technology should be there to support improved decision making, not replace the decision-making responsibility and role of the umpire. There should be a balance of technology in the game, where we do not see an over-reliance on technology and remove the human element because just like people, technology is also fallible at times," Taufel told TOI.

The former umpire also stated that the supreme body of cricket, International Cricket Council (ICC), should take up the responsibility of developing the technologies related to cricket rather than letting the broadcasters do it for them. He also revealed that people must accept the fact that 100 per cent accuracy in decision making is not possible.

“It may have been more helpful for the game itself to drive what technology is used, rather than the broadcasters doing it. The technology that we see on television is paid for by the host broadcasters, who also have total control over it. Ideally, the ICC could have invested in developing technology to meet the game's specific needs. We must also accept the fact that we not going to achieve 100 percent accuracy.”

In the recently concluded Test series between India and Australia, there was a decision in which Indian skipper Virat Kohli was declared out caught at slips despite the replays not being very conclusive. But, since the on-field umpire had given “out” as their soft signal Kohli had to walk off the field grudgingly as the third umpire denied overturning the decision citing insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision. Explaining the same Taufel stated that the Umpires have to give a soft-signal to make the decision process easier. 

“The soft signal is necessary because in some cases the evidence produced by the camera angles is not conclusive or available. Unless the third umpire has conclusive evidence at his disposal, it is not right to overturn the decision of the on-field umpire. The primary responsibility for making an initial decision on a fair catch remains with the bowler's end umpire - just like an LBW decision.”

Taufel has also been of the opinion that the ICC needed to work towards making the third umpire a specialists job. He said that once the third umpires started doing the same job repeatedly, the decision-making would be efficient that would in-turn save match-time. In the same vein, he also advocated for more focus on the “third team” of a match by the ICC. He was hinting at the match officials of a particular match and urged the cricketing bodies to strive continuously for the betterment of the team by investing in training and coaching of match officials.

“I would advocate the introduction of specialist third umpires. We know that when you keep doing a particular task or role, you become better, faster. Improving the quality and performance  of a smaller group of less than 10 is far more achievable than a group of around 50. Specialist third umpires would speed the game up as they would be more time efficient in the review and decision-making process.”

“I'd like to see a continued and improved effort by the governing bodies to invest in the resourced training and coaching of match officials. The playing side of the game receives so much support and investment. It would be worthwhile to see the 'third team' in the match have a similar focus.”

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