Former England captain Michael Vaughan has called TV cameras to be inserted in DRS trucks in order to ‘improve transparency and accountability’ after a number of marginal lbw calls in the ongoing India-England Test series.
Subscribe to the Wisden Cricket YouTube channel for post-match analysis, player interviews, and much more.
Writing in the Telegraph, Vaughan prefaced his idea by saying that he not only likes the use of technology in the game but also that “England have done a bit too much moaning” about how lbw calls have gone against them at times during the series. He also wrote that England’s predicament in the series – on the cusp of going 3-1 down with one to play – has nothing to do with the marginal decisions that have gone India’s way.
Vaughan highlighted the dismissal of Joe Root on day three (February 25) and the subsequent online backlash where an on-field not out call off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin was overturned on referral.
“It only takes one look at social media to see that a lot of people do not trust it,” wrote Vaughan. “There is so much anger and suspicion about decisions that go for or against certain teams. There is suspicion about host broadcasters and who is in the truck. That is despite the technology companies not actually being from the same country as the host broadcaster. For instance, Hawk-Eye is a company from the UK but is being used in this series. They are just brought in by the host broadcaster.
“So here is a simple solution to help improve transparency and accountability: stick a camera and microphone in the truck so as a decision is being made, we all know exactly what is going on, and how much humans are involved. And if you stick an ICC official in there as well we would know that the integrity – something we talk so much about in the game – is intact. You could argue that those running the technology in the truck are as important as the two standing umpires.”
Vaughan did not suggest that have been mistakes in the television umpiring this series, though it was confirmed after the third Test that an incorrect graphic was used for Zak Crawley’s second innings lbw even though the correct decision was ultimately made. Following that particular dismissal England captain Ben Stokes called for the abolition of umpire’s call.
