Umpires in Cricket !!

An apsect of the game of cricket which has, for long now, been a focal point of discussion, is the role the 3rd umpire plays in a match, be it an ODI or Test match. It would be totally fair to utilise the 3rd umpire in decisions regarding LBWs as the decisions by the umpire on the pitch is so critical as it can impact or even turn a whole game on it's head. In saying this an example could be a batsman who has a score of 4* and is trapped LBW by the bowler who obviously appeals for the LBW and is turned down by the umpire. In the replays, and with the help of the "hawk eye technology", it is plain to see that the batsman is in fact trapped LBW by the bowler. The same batsman goes on and makes a score of 100 or more. If the decision was referred to the 3rd umpire and the batsman was given out, the games could have a whole different outcome, so much so that the team could actually have lost on the day, which would not be fair on the opposing team.

The argument has always been that if these decisions are referred to the 3rd umpire, then the umpires on the pitch would "have no work". This is a load of hogwash. The umpire is on the pitch is adjudicate different aspects such as no balls, wides, byes, overstepping on the pitch, amongst others. This in itself is already a handful for any umpire, so that argument does not hold ground. Let the 3rd umpire get involved in the LBW decisions and it will be all the better for the game of cricket.

Just looking at some shocking decisions in the 2007 Cricket World Cup, some games could well have ended otherwise. LBW decisions should not be dependant on the split second "sighting" by the umpire at that moment, it should be referred to the 3rd umpire in order to obtain a biased decision which would suit each and every cricket participant, I am sure. Something should be set in motion to get this problem area sorted out in cricket.