PlayBack 2013 – Final Part – Opinions

Can you cheat the Hot-spot?

Post the 3rd Ashes test at Manchester and after a series of DRS going against Australia with Hot spot failing to capture an edge most times, Australian media created flutter by claiming that ICC was probing batsmen for using silicone tape to cheat the technology but the ICC denied those reports. Australian batsman Steve Smith replied to these comments that he has never heard of anything as silicone tapes and nor was anyone aware of cheating the hot-pot.

Lack of elite panel umpires from nations other than Australia and England

With 10 back to back Ashes, ICC was in a fix in appointing umpires. With 6 of the elite panel umpires belonging to Australia and England, nothing could be done other than appointing the remaining 4 for all 10. It was a tuff task for the on-field umpires given the importance of the 10 matches.

With lots of howlers after the first Ashes test at Trent Bridge, voices were raised for quality umpires. Post Ashes in England, Billy Bowden was removed from the elite panel but he was brought back for umpiring duty for the Ashes Down under. With cricket reaching many remote areas of the globe, ICC must take measures so that its member nations contribute effectively and bring out great umpiring talents.

Celebrating a victory

Which is the sporting way of celebrating a victory – a gangnam style dance or urinating on the pitch? Sachin Tendulkar saluted the pitch after his retirement but what England players did at The Oval after the fifth ashes test was world known. Legends are not made but born. But the born legend to remain a legend depends upon how he behaves. The Oval incident involved Pietersen, Anderson and Broad.

What happened to the ‘Sporting’ Crowd?

During an IPL match at Mumbai, Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli, known for his temper tantrums on field, was in for a rude shock while playing against Mumbai Indians. After Ambati Rayudu’s run out dismissal, who the crowd thought was obstructed by the bowler Vinay Kumar, Kohli was continuously booed by the Mumbai crowd, who called him a ‘cheat’.

An upset Kohli later complained that the crowd probably forgot that he plays for India too and such behavior promotes hatred amongst players. RCB skipper may have got offended by the rough treatment the Mumbai crowd gave him last week but CSK coach Fleming is all for partisan crowds and hostile home environment.

“It’s great for the league that there is home and away advantage. It really adds to the competition. When it’s a tough game and a tough crowd, the victory, if you can achieve it, becomes even more special,” the former New Zealand captain said.

Keeping the stump mikes on

Everyone knows that there will be many sledgings and heated exchanges between opposition players on-field. But whether those conversations are worth sharing and are the fans, who pay to watch the play, entitled to know what’s happening every moment? The decision will be tricky.

In the recent Ashes test at Gabba, Michael Clarke was fined 20% of his match for the ignorance of the operators. Reason – Clarke sledged Anderson as “to get ready for a broken arm” between deliveries. This comment is not supposed to be recorded but it happened.