Simon Taufel calls on more countries to produce umpires amid DRS fiasco

Sydney: Former Test umpire Simon Taufel has called for more countries to produce leading umpires in a bid to boost `succession planning`, although he admitted that the Decision Review System (DRS) is also posing as a problem for decision-makers.

England and Australia between them provide eight members of the International Cricket Council`s (ICC) 12-strong panel of elite umpires, in the current five-match Ashes series, which are set to be followed by another five Tests in Australia starting later this year. A report said that due to the fact, only four men- Pakistan`s Aleem Dar, Sri Lanka`s Kumar Dharmasena, South Africa`s Marais Erasmus and New Zealand`s Tony Hill- are currently eligible to officiate in the Ashes. Stating that the ongoing Ashes series between England and Australia highlighted the significant challenge of `succession planning`, Taufel, who retired from umpiring after the World Twenty20 in October 2012, said that there is a real need to encourage and support the other Test playing countries to invest more resources in this area. Since eight of the 12 elite panel umpires are not eligible to officiate in the Ashes according to the neutrality guidelines, Taufel, now ICC`s umpire training and performance manager, further said that the future mindset over umpiring needed to be altered and invest more in the future of match officiating. Taufel also said that the representation trend by two countries needed more competition from the others, although he was vague over whether any changes should be made, adding that he advocated for possible practical methods to get more correct decisions and deliver more justice. According to Taufel, technology will never be completely perfect no matter whatever system of technology review/referral has been implemented in the game, adding that there are trade-offs and compromises with every system adopted. Stating that the invasive nature of the broadcasting has put a double edge over the game by increasingly pressurising players and umpires, Taufel also said that technology has the ability to bring out both the best and the worst in the game. England leads the Ashes 2-0 but both the first two Tests have featured controversial incidents regarding the use of the DRS, the report added. ANI