BBC SPORT | ENGLAND V PAKISTAN | Umpiring 'a disgrace'

The standard of umpiring at the Second Test between England and Pakistan has been condemned as disgraceful by the Chairman of the Association of Umpires and Scorers.

Barrie Stuart-King condemned David Shepherd and Ed Nicholls for their lack of concentration during the game which England lost by 108 runs.

Pakistan's win was tainted as England lost four of their last five wickets through no-balls.

"It was a disgrace that the umpires were not concentrating on the front-foot no-ball," said Stuart-King.

The players deserve better, they were decisions that lost England the game

Barrie Stuart-King, Chairman of the Association of Umpires and Scorers

"Any trained umpire should have picked them up - but that is the problem, many are not trained and don't go on refresher courses.

"The players deserve better, they were decisions that lost England the game.

"The decisions were grotesque and I can think of no mitigating circumstances. Umpires should be physically and mentally fit and be able to concentrate as hard on the last hour of the match as if it were the first.

He added that if umpires went through ACUS training, there would be no need for the further use of technology to aid the umpires.

Dikcie Bird with the NatWest Series trophy
Dickie Bird: No more technology needed

Former umpire Dickie Bird admitted that spotting no-balls was a serious problem in Test cricket.

But he ruled out the use of more electronic aids and extra responsibility for the third umpire.

"I don't believe in third umpires and I would not like anything else that takes decision-making away from the umpire.

"The umpire has always been part of the game and as far as I'm concerned always should be. "Bringing in a Cyclops or a magic-eye machine is not the answer for no balls. I don't believe that the technology always works accurately.

Our chaps are trained to look at the no-ball but it is very difficult to spot and that's not only for fast bowlers but the slowies too

Dickie Bird

"First-class umpires will make mistakes but that is human nature. Players will accept mistakes if the umpire tries to be consistent, and is honest and admits that he has not got it right.

"The bottom line is is that the umpire gets the respect of the players, and the umpire that makes the least mistakes stays at the top.

Former Australian international and Worcester's director of coaching, Tom Moody, confirms that first-class players are well aware of the no-ball problem.

Discussing the current Australian team's build-up to this year's Ashes tour, Moody said: "When I took my Worcestershire players down to the nets the other day, after Australia had been there the day before you could see the bowler's footmarks.

Worcestershire coach Tom Moody
Moody: Aussies within the laws

"And not a single bowler had no-balled in practice. I said to our guys if it's good enough for McGrath, Gillespie and Fleming, it's good enough for us," Moody told the Observer newspaper.

Essex pace bowler Mark Ilott revealed that his county operates a zero tolerance policy on no-balls.

"There's nothing more annoying than bowling a no-ball and at Essex Keith Fletcher and Geoff Arnold come down hard on it.

"It really isn't in the bowler's interests to bowl no-bowls. While the bowler is bowling no-balls he's not looking at the possible LBW decision.

"Players appreciate that it's a hard job but we want consistency and I see no reason why technology can't be used to improve the game."

Leading eye specialist and consultant at Moorfields eye hospital in London, John Dart, said: "An umpire should not have any problem in focusing on the bowler's feet and then at the other wicket.

"It is all to do with a flick of the eyes or a saccade. Difficulties only arise when the head is not positioned properly."


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