To avoid bad light, ICC considers Tests at night

While the final day of the Bangalore Test kicked off a debate on the use of the light meter by the umpires, the International Cricket Council is working on a bright idea.

While the final day of the Bangalore Test kicked off a debate on the use of the light meter by the umpires, the International Cricket Council is working on a bright idea. ICC8217;s general manager for cricket operations Dave Richardson has hinted that the day wouldn8217;t be far when the phrase 8216;bad light stops play8217; wouldn8217;t be part of the game.

8220;We are thinking of holding Tests under floodlights. Maybe by next year, it will be possible,8221; says Richardson. To make it possible, the ICC is presently studying cricket balls of different colours and how they would appear under lights.

When asked about the Bangalore Test, Richardson said the readings on light meters can8217;t be questioned. 8220;Light meters have been used for the last two years by umpires so that it can help consistency. In other words, these light meters are looked upon as the bench mark for making a decision on whether to have play or not. Players themselves have welcomed such a move, instead of adopting ways earlier when umpires had to look here and there and quite a few decisions weren8217;t up to the mark,8221; he says.

8220;I will be surprised if there8217;s a technological error. Let8217;s face it. Players are trying their best to win the match, one team is never going to be happy with the decision. You can8217;t please everybody all the time. The objective is to be consistent,8221; he adds.

Satisfied with referral system

Richardson also says that the ICC is satisfied with the referral system introduced during India8217;s tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year and found that it led to 98 per cent correct decisions. The only disappointment, in his opinion, was the third umpire making decisions.

8220;We want the on-field umpires to be in total charge of the referrals at all times. It8217;s good for the game and umpires who carry the stigma for giving wrong decisions throughout their life in the absence of such a system. It gives the umpires an opportunity to rectify their mistakes. It also eliminates umpiring controversies and brings back the focus of everyone on the game,8221; he says.