CRICKET : Mickey Arthur has welcomed apparent confirmation that the ICC’s decision review system will be used after all in the forthcoming England-South Africa Test series.
Mickey Arthur has welcomed apparent confirmation that the ICC’s decision review system will be used after all in the forthcoming England-South Africa Test series.
The system – first trialled between England and West Indies last winter and now refined to include only two permissible failed challenges per side in each innings – is in place for the ongoing series between Pakistan and New Zealand.
“I definitely support it. There’s no doubt I think it’s the right way to go,” said Arthur.
The intention is for it to be introduced universally. But indications last week were that it would not be in operation in the series in South Africa, starting next month, because of a wrangle between the home board and the world governing body over how the required technology should be funded.
It seems those hitches have been overcome – and South Africa coach Arthur has made it clear he is very much in favour of the new system, albeit with qualms over residual grey areas as to which technology will be available to help the third umpire reach the correct decision.
Hawkeye, hotspot and other devices are supposed to be in use. But if funding issues do prevent access to some technological aids, Arthur admits he will be concerned.
He added: “I’m not 100% sure on the actual detail yet, how much of it we are going to use and what is going to be available.
“I hope if we are going to use it we go the whole hog and get all the technology available. I think that’s key to making it a success.”
Arthur appears prepared to accept minor inequalities in the availability of the technology in the short term – as long as a level playing field is achieved globally in the end.
“If we’re going to do it it should be standard around the world,” he believes.
