The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Ponting's objections to new umpiring technology

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Sunday, Aug 29, 2004

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Ponting's objections to new umpiring technology

LONDON, AUG. 28. Australian captain Ricky Ponting has reportedly raised strong objections to an ICC initiative to try out umpiring technology in next month's Champions Trophy.

The Champions Trophy tournament will see umpires in seven out of the competition's 15 matches wearing an ear piece linked to the stump microphone as the ball passes the batsman in a bid to help them hear thin edges and close to the wicket catches.

Ponting's criticism has the backing of Zimbabwe's Tatenda Taibu, reports The News.

Eight of the ten national cricket captains, however, have welcomed the move.

While the ICC maintains that Ponting's view is consistent with Australia's long-standing approach to the subject, it said that Taibu, Test cricket's youngest captain, required more leadership exposure before commenting on new trends.

Dave Richardson, the General Manager of the ICC's cricket operations, said that umpires using the technology in the recent one-day series in Holland had given a positive feedback.

England captain Michael Vaughan has welcomed the use of the new technology to assist umpires, but was cautious about extending the use of technology into other areas such as ``Hawkeye'', the tracking system which claims to accurately predict the flight path of the ball.

Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq has also said that he is in favour of the move. — ANI

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