A catch taken low to the ground, but how can TV be sure?

However, the International Cricket Council decided neither to increase nor decrease the amount of technology in use in international cricket.

That decision will not be reviewed again until spring 2002.

Critics of the over-use of technology say that the on-field umpires have a far better view of any incident than a camera, and the number of times that third umpires have cited inconclusive supports that view.

Give the men in the middle responsibility for everything but run out decisions

Dickie Bird

Dickie Bird would go further in repealing the use of technology

"Leave it with the men in the middle to consult and make a decision."

Bird dismissed, though, nostalgic notions of a fielder owning up as to whether a catch had carried.

"I never asked a player whether he had caught it," he said. "A batsman might have asked a fielder and then walked off, though."

Disputed catches have coincided with friction between teams of late, most noticeably last March, when England were in Sri Lanka and Australia toured India.

According to Bird, it is the increased number of Tests and pressure on players, rather than the technology itself, which has caused argument.

"Players have got to learn to play hard but play within the rules of the game," he said.

Last year, former South Africa coach Bob Woolmer suggested that a more simple way of judging close catches would be to alter the position of one of the umpires - an idea gained during a Warwickshire training session.

"With the current use of technology, I believe that all umpires should embrace new ideas to make their jobs less pressurised," Woolmer said.

"For example, the square leg umpire needs to stand close to or behind the wicket-keeper to check if the catches carry.

"His main function in the past of giving someone run out is in the hands of the third umpire."

Bird has dismissed this notion in the name of tradition but it remains a way of embracing technology while making best use of the men in the middle.

Until next spring, Australia will be a test bed for this return to human decision-making.

A domestic season Down Under free from controversy could well see the international game take a step back too.