Referral

In cricket, a referral refers to a request for extra verification of an umpire judgment. If either team feels the referee made a mistake, they may dispute the judgment. This applies to both the batting side and the fielding side. In this particular instance, the decision about the request that was filed for consideration is made on the spot by incorporating a third judge within the time interval that was stipulated.

 

Initiation of a referral in cricket may take place either at the discretion of the captain or batsman, or under the Umpire Decision Review System. In accordance with the regulations, each side is permitted to see the interpretation of the situation a maximum of twice throughout each inning. As a result of the system’s ability to make objective decisions on the most challenging judicial duties, it is now being embraced by both judges and gamers.

Referral System: Technology, LBW Challenges and the Evolution of Hawk-Eye in Cricket

Despite concerns that, in the end, the judges may eventually lose their power both on and off the field, the new referral system, which includes the use of video replays, has been praised for its effectiveness. On the other hand, the referees surprisingly indicated their support for referral, putting their faith in third judges and computer technology.

What is the core of the new system that has been built? There is an additional third referee on the field who can view all the cameras that take pictures from four angles. By doing so, you will be able to have a comprehensive understanding of the events that are taking place in its digital edition. For those who are passionate about tennis, it is possible that the similarity with the “hawk eye” system, which is effectively implemented at every match in the ATP category, will become much more apparent.

Due to the LBW (Leg before wicket) rule, which states that the batter has the right to contact the projectile only with the bat after the bowler has served the ball, the sport of cricket requires the use of computer aid. Under these circumstances, a breach of the rules occurs when the ball makes contact with any other part of the body of the player who is batting (often the leg). This causes a change in the trajectory of the ball, which is a violation of the rules.

It will not be difficult for a field judge to observe this time, but things will change radically when the projectile that is being served by an expert bowler — which is around 160 kilometers per hour — reaches speed. When it comes to this particular scenario, computer watching gives you the ability to assess what is taking place on the field and even generate a type of virtual viewpoint of the movement of the ball.

In addition, it is important to note that hawk-eye was used for the very first time in the sport of cricket. Nevertheless, the decision about its consistent application was not immediately implemented. This was due to the peculiarities of the rules of cricket, which do not interpret the LBW situation unambiguously. If, in the same tennis game, there are only two possible outcomes of the situation “out” and “field” then, the umpire has the possibility to abstain from making his own judgment and judge it as “controversial”. Consequently, the year 2006 marked the beginning of the process of appealing referral judgments, which continued until 2009, when the International Cricket Council (ICC) reached a consensus on the matter.

The new system was finally tested at the Test meeting of India against Sri Lanka in 2008. The Indian team evaluated the effectiveness of the computer replay even though it was defeated. This match was the official debut of the new system in the ICC. However, referral in cricket proved its maximum effectiveness in the framework of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, after which all disputes were concluded. In particular, thanks to the additional viewing in the semi-final match India – Pakistan, it was possible to avoid a plurality of opinions. Then the referral was resorted to as part of ODI matches during England’s tour of Australia in 2011.

At the moment, the system is used in most matches of the highest category, where it successfully demonstrates itself.