TV umpires to monitor no-balls from Ind-WI series
After a string of controversies over missed no-balls by on-field umpires in the recent past, the International Cricket Council has announced that the TV umpires will be monitoring every ball bowled by the bowler to identify whether it is a no-ball. The trial will be set in place from the upcoming series between India and West Indies that begins on Friday, December 6 in Hyderabad.
The series, which has three T20 Internationals and three One Day Internationals, will be the second time where the technology to identify and call out no balls will be used. The first series in which the system was first tried was in the ODIs between England and Pakistan three years ago.
"Throughout the trial, the third umpire will be responsible for monitoring every ball bowled and identifying whether there has been any front foot infringement," the ICC said in a statement.
"If there has been an infringement on the front foot, the third umpire will communicate this to the on-field Umpire who will subsequently call a no-ball. As a result, the on-field umpire will not call a front foot no-ball without the advice of the third umpire," it added.
In case of a tricky decision, the benefit of the doubt will go to the bowler.
"...and if a late no-ball call is communicated, then the on-field umpire will rescind a dismissal (if applicable) and call no-ball. The on-field umpire will remain responsible for other in-game decisions in the usual way," the ICC said.
"The outcomes of the trial will be used to gauge whether the system has a beneficial impact on the accuracy of no-ball decisions and whether it can be implemented while minimising disruption to the flow of the game," it added.
Also see - India West Indies schedule
The decision to make third umpires the adjudicator of the no-balls was taken in August this year after a number of no-balls went undetected in the World Cup. In one example, Australia's Mitchell Starc bowled a huge no-ball in a game against West Indies, which was not called. Chris Gayle had to suffer, as the left-hander was sent back to the pavilion off the next ball, which should have otherwise been a free hit.