It was after much persuasion that the ICC finally went in for neutral umpires in the early nineties for international cricket – a decision that should have been taken much earlier. Now suddenly after umpires Joel Wilson and Aleem Dar have admittedly had one bad Test there are calls to revert back to the old system of having the “best’’ umpires irrespective of their nationality.
It was the charge of bias of favouring the home team that sparked off discussions about having neutral umpires. Imran Khan bravely took the initiative when he had Indian umpires Piloo Reporter and VK Ramaswamy officiate in the Test series between Pakistan and West Indies at home in 1986. Pakistan umpires had in particular come in for a lot of criticism on the bias factor and Imran thereafter was in the forefront of having neutral umpires to offset this criticism. Again in the 1989 series in Pakistan against India English umpires John Holder and John Hampshire officiated in the four Tests. The move was seen as a resounding success with the charge of bias ruled out. Now at most there could only be a charge of incompetence and this could work against both sides.
Taking the cue the ICC took the right step by first having one neutral umpire and one home umpire for Tests in the 90s before in the new millennium neutral umpires became the vogue. The introduction of the Elite Panel was another welcome move for it meant that the best umpires would officiate in the Tests.
Like players umpires too can make mistakes but it was hoped that the DRS would help in minimizing these errors if not eradicating erroneous decisions. Basically the DRS is a sound system in that it helps to right a wrong decision but when technology became more and more involved with on field decisions the role of the umpires came under the scanner. Despite interpretations about the DRS being open to debate by and large the neutral umpires system was working well enough till the events at Edgbaston last week triggered off the debate.
The question of dumping the neutral umpires system – a query raised by some big names that include Ricky Ponting, Michael Vaughan and Glenn McGrath – has been debated for some time now. But last year the issue was raised at an ICC match officials forum and it is learnt that the umpires were not only united but vehement in their opposition to any change. The umpires are happier to accept criticism of their decision making on the basis of their knowledge of the laws, weather or pitch conditions, hearing, eyesight – just about anything so long as they are not regarded as being biased towards one side or favouring the home team.
Like everyone in life, even an umpire can have a bad day. To change a system that is largely successful and go back to a system which is bound to bring back the old problems – perhaps more magnified with the increasing use of technology and intense media scrutiny – is asking for trouble. The umpires themselves feel bad after undoing a disturbing game like the one at Edgbaston. They must be given the chance to improve instead of putting them out to pasture.