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*Official* England Tour of Sri Lanka 2018

StephenZA

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
No I don't. All I have to understand is that it's their job. They're not doing it. What you are talking about is another issue. Is there a better way? There maybe. Suggest it and get it done. Until then umpires should just do their job.
You say that as if they not trying to do their job... as if they used to call no-balls and get it right all the time. My comment is that what we have found out is that to ask them to do that is not really a realistic task to give them along with all the rest, mistakes will have, are and will continue to be made, until something is done about it.

And ultimately the no-ball is the players fault; nothing will change my opinion of that.
 

StephenZA

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
The umpires are meant to call no-balls because they are the officials under law 2.1 that are empowered to enforce law 21.5. There is obviously scant evidence but balance of probablities seems to suggest why are getting it less right than in the relatively recent past. It can be done better but rhetorical flourishes is not the correct way. Perhaps try to address what is happening in reality rather than projecting yourself onto the situation.
I disagree with this fundamentally, I think technology (like all the other that has come in) has shown that umpires where getting this wrong just as much in the past but we didn't know better.
 

wpdavid

Hall of Fame Member
Are umpires meant to call no balls?

Yes.

Then do it. No problem really.

That's my take on it really. I have total sympathy with umpires adjudicating close calls for LBW and edges/gloves, but that white line isn't going anywhere and it shouldn't be beyond them to see if some of the bowler's foot is behind it.
 
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MW1304

Cricketer Of The Year
Meanwhile a game of cricket is happening and Foakes isn't doing the best job of shielding the tail here.
 

Starfighter

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I disagree with this fundamentally, I think technology (like all the other that has come in) has shown that umpires where getting wrong just as much in the past but we didn't know better.
The fact that umpires call fewer no-balls these days despite technology showing their regular occurrence says otherwise. And people have been taking recordings and talking about judgment of no-balls for much longer than you think (since the late thirties in fact).
 

OverratedSanity

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Imo they should just not call no balls at all. Just let the third umpire keep an eye on it. ****ing ridiculous that this keeps happening and the ICC do nothing.
 

Starfighter

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Imo they should just not call no balls at all. Just let the third umpire keep an eye on it. ****ing ridiculous that this keeps happening and the ICC do nothing.
I've had a thought that with annoying gimmicks like zing bails and light up stumps being a thing these days the third umpire should have a constant watch on the crease and when a no-ball is bowled it would be easy enough to immediately send an obvious signal out (i.e. light up the stumps at one end or another) as soon as they are satisfied, though you'd have to be careful with how things might disrupt decisions for stumpings and so on. A speedy process that can be done all the time is much better for all concerned.

But if you say that umpires shouldn't bother calling no-balls then we may as well take the logical next step and get rid of on-field umpires and just let fielding team refer when they see fit.
 

Starfighter

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
You say that as if they not trying to do their job... as if they used to call no-balls and get it right all the time. My comment is that what we have found out is that to ask them to do that is not really a realistic task to give them along with all the rest, mistakes will have, are and will continue to be made, until something is done about it.
Okay, what are your suggestions then? Not unworkable things like you have already presented. It's one thing being all haughty and another actually suggesting something useful.

And ultimately the no-ball is the players fault; nothing will change my opinion of that.
Which no-one has said otherwise and I am only arguing for the law to be enforced properly when clearly no-attempt is being made to do so. Straw men are easy aren't they? Once again, it is the umpire's responsibility and according to the rules theirs alone to enforce the rule properly.
 

StephenZA

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
I think there is probably a way to put 'sensors' of some sort on the crease line to help with no-balls. May be to expensive though.

But if you say that umpires shouldn't bother calling no-balls then we may as well take the logical next step and get rid of on-field umpires and just let fielding team refer when they see fit.
I remember that argument when DRS was first coming in.
 

StephenZA

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Which no-one has said otherwise and I am only arguing for the law to be enforced properly when clearly no-attempt is being made to do so. Straw men are easy aren't they? Once again, it is the umpire's responsibility and according to the rules theirs alone to enforce the rule properly.
The assumption that the law is only being enforced differently is based on us finding out how often they have not been called now versus back then... I can't say how many were correct or how much the umpires got it right, because I have no evidence for this. But the assumption that these umpires don't care to do their job properly and others in the past did is entirely unfair.
 

Gnske

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
Foakes has been very good at shielding the tail through this series imo. Clearly didn't study at the University of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
 

MW1304

Cricketer Of The Year
Foakes has been very good at shielding the tail through this series imo. Clearly didn't study at the University of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Only started doing it this innings since I called him out tbf. I don't want to take too much credit but it's entirely thanks to me.
 

Starfighter

Cricket Web: All-Time Legend
What we talking about is that while the umpire should be have tried to watch the no-ball, the assumption that they got it right all the time is foolish. Now we know better, and from all intensive purposes it appears it was foolish to think that umpires could watch the no-ball line and always get it right, while also expecting them to watch what was happening on the other end. So umpires miss no-balls, particularly close on the line no-balls, real shocker! Either we remove the replays to show umpire faults or we rethink how it is done. Get 3rd umpire involved and/or accept that if you are pushing the line without umpire being sure he will check no balls using the technology when you get a wicket. Thus responsibility needs to fall on the players as knowing full well technology will be used. The game has changed, and blaming the umpires for what is clearly the players fault is stupid imo.
Aside from the fact this could be said in far fewer words, try actually coming up with a solution. Once again though the players might overstep it's not their job to enforce the laws. It's stupid making roundabout arguments to not really address the point.

And now I read about how it might stop player concentration fielding at mid off (or whatever) to glance and check his team mates foot placement. But for the umpire at 22 yards who is trying to make, edge, lbw etc decisions its easy?
I don't mean to be insulting, but this comes across like you've played done little fielding or umpiring. Except in a very limited range of circumstances the umpire is in a better position to watch for no-balls even with their other duties than the fielders.

It was the umpires job 50 years ago because nobody else could make that decision, and I am sure they made mistakes. Now we don't want the mistakes we have the technology and get it right.
Yet we are getting it wrong more than ever before. I can't think of too many fields where completely missing an important phenomenon occurring 40% of the time is acceptable. We are not using the technology to get it right, we are only using it when it suddenly becomes of paramount importance that it's right. Getting it right would have seen all the missed no-balls called. They are arguably getting it less right than ever at the moment.

And then get rid of umpires altogether because upstairs can handle any decisions.
 

wpdavid

Hall of Fame Member
Foakes has been very good at shielding the tail through this series imo. Clearly didn't study at the University of Shivnarine Chanderpaul.
Looks like he reckons he's seen enough of the bowling to have a bit of a dart now.
 

Daemon

Request Your Custom Title Now!
What we talking about is that while the umpire should be have tried to watch the no-ball, the assumption that they got it right all the time is foolish. Now we know better, and from all intensive purposes it appears it was foolish to think that umpires could watch the no-ball line and always get it right, while also expecting them to watch what was happening on the other end. So umpires miss no-balls, particularly close on the line no-balls, real shocker! Either we remove the replays to show umpire faults or we rethink how it is done. Get 3rd umpire involved and/or accept that if you are pushing the line without umpire being sure he will check no balls using the technology when you get a wicket. Thus responsibility needs to fall on the players as knowing full well technology will be used. The game has changed, and blaming the umpires for what is clearly the players fault is stupid imo.

And now I read about how it might stop player concentration fielding at mid off (or whatever) to glance and check his team mates foot placement. But for the umpire at 22 yards who is trying to make, edge, lbw etc decisions its easy?

It was the umpires job 50 years ago because nobody else could make that decision, and I am sure they made mistakes. Now we don't want the mistakes we have the technology and get it right.
Twice in a week
 

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