So the first post of this long awaited blog (Is that the smell of bullshit wafting in the air?!) and I‘ve decided to document my highs and woes on the cricket I’m playing, as well as my thoughts and opinions on the cricket I’m not. So to the first post, on the playing side my summer season will start with a somewhat glamorous opening training session. Trials with the province Munster will start the season and my first session outdoors in about 4 months. A grassy back garden is no substitute for a proper wicket, if an artificial one. The opportunity to travel the length of the country to play an inter-provincial tournament in Derry if one can navigate the trial successfully. A trip to England for my first live professional cricket match will come in July (A 
County Championship Division 2 game none the less!) but for this session I feel good, and if I can bowl the same Saturday as I did in my back garden then I might have a chance.
I think the current games both in South Africa and across the Atlantic in the Caribbean highlight the lack of preparation before introducing the referral system. In my opinion I feel technology must be accepted by sport and used accordingly. Some sports have embraced technology and use it do enhance decisions and take the error out of a high value business. Both rugby codes have their TMO’s, American Football has its review system among many and traditionalists must accept the referee isn’t always right. Football are the worst perpetrators when it comes to this, how in God’s name can they refuse to bring in goal-line technology after so many high profle incidents? Surely with a goal making or breaking millions of pounds the keenest of efforts must be made to eradicate human error from the sport. Cricket has been somewhat better, now the on-field umpires mustn’t make all the split second decisions with the third umpire referred for most run out calls. But after what seemed a successful trial in the series between India and Sri Lanka the cracks are showing in the new system, cracks that shouldn’t have appeared at all, a lack of planning threatening the integrity of a system that is sorely needed in cricket. It seemed that nobody fully understood the rules neither in the West Indies nor South Africa. Three farcical scenes in both series’ will no doubt cause the asking of crucial questions concerning the system; first Ricky Ponting had a heated argument with the on field umpires when he was told he wasn’t allowed to refer a questionable decision even though he had referr
als on hand. Then a good decision was made bad by an always controversial Darrell Hair, and finally Brendan Nash standing around after his wicket was taken asking for the referral but told to go back to the pavilion. The rules as I understand them was that one has a time limit of 10 seconds to decide to refer, and mustn’t be allowed to refer following advice from the dressing room. But yet the all-rounder was left standing and gazing in the centre of the arena, only to be told to dispose of himself.
As for the scenes in Johannesburg I honestly don’t have a clue what went on or why Punter wasn’t allowed refer. In my opinion the umpires are far too proud and are unwilling to refer borderline decisions themselves, which not only eradicates the confusion but also ensures the correct decision is made without the onus being on the players. Furthermore some umpires are unwilling to put the correct decisions in place due to their inability to swallow their pride. (Aleem Dar hang your head in shame) How can an umpire defend a decision to overturn the 3rd umpire, even when the TMO has video evidence, multiple angles, slow motion and sound enhancement ect. on his side, against the umpires naked eye and 90 mile an hour speed decision. I think that once the decision is made to refer, the umpire should be completely eradicated from the process and it should be left solely to the 3rd umpire to call the shots. (Pun not intended)
A number of other basic problems come to the fore on the back of the West Indies series. Why isn’t all the technology that’s available for the TV companies not be at the um
pires fingertips? I’m talking hotspot, snicko and hawkeye. Surely the 3rd umpires must be given every chance to make the correct decisions! I know that hawkeye isn’t 100% accurate and snicko isn’t fully conclusive, but there’s surely an argument to be made to include them as guides. I’m all for human decisions being made, but this chance and rub of the green must be eradicated from a sport that is becoming increasingly commercialised. Also, why must the 3rd umpires have to contend with TV commentary when trying to listen to referrals concerning edges? Surely they have the ability to mute the commentary, or to use the audio from one microphone. At the moment they rely on TV mixing and dubbing to make their decisions, this not only makes it harder for the umpires to track down the audio they want, it also makes it harder for the TV Companies to broadcast the glossy and complete programme they require, having to tell their commentators to shut up to facilitate the 3rd umpire. It’s not bSKYb’s job to facilitate the umpires, it’s their job to make the best show and get people to tune in and pay up. Unfortunately this is a consequence of the ever changing times but the ICC must ensure every possible attempt is made to ensure the correct decisions are called.
Declarations were key in the West Indies series and it was clear that this was an area that Strauss lacked in. A negative approach to the game arguably lost two matches of the series for England. In Guyana they came agonisingly close to a win and when a win was vital, Strauss not only declared too late, but also got rid of the enticement of a win for the Windies, that could have goaded those two crucial wickets on a deteriorating Day 5 pitch in Port-of-Spain.
But alas it wasn’t to be, a Twenty20 and 5 ODI series follows which one would say is more likely the West Indies’. But we’ll struggle on from country to country, series to series but on the back of the performance across the pond, the Ashes 2009 will be another whitewash.
So three sessions down and one to go by my reckoning. Batting is going well (Most of the runs on the leg side mind you) and the bowling isn’t all bad and the fielding is coming along nicely. Was made captain a week ago and was applauded for my captaincy by both players and coaches! Back to the international scene and is that India against New Zealand series topsy turvy or what! First the Indians easily overturn the Kiwi’s as expected. But now in McLean Park the New Zealanders had a belter of a start against the Indians with an excellent and well paced first innings, Jessie Ryder the best of the lot, and then an aggressive positive second innings forced the Indians into following on. Only brave batting from Tendulkar and Sehwag rescued a draw for the much favoured Indian outfit. The third test in my opinion will be determined by the first day’s play, if New Zealand can get out of the blocks quickly then it is sure to be another excellent 5 days test cricket. On the other hand, if the Kiwi’s can’t mount a serious challenge then the series is decided there and then. I think the Indian’s will win, I don’t think New Zealand’s pace attack is enough to take 20 wickets in a high pressure game, and the Indian’s are in the habit of winning, I can’t see that changing. 
ith others in the pavilion about his Duckworth Louis calculations. Such a basic error in regard to such an important decision shouldn’t be accepted and lessons must be learned by all sides as to the importance of getting your sums right. This series should be dead and buried yet England have 100 overs in which to save their series.