ICC says it won't fund extra cameras (4 January 1999)

4 January 1999

ICC says it won't fund extra cameras

AFP

LONDON, Jan 4 (AFP) - The International Cricket Council said on Monday it would not give any financial backing to any programme aimed at improving the third umpire system.

England's hopes of drawing their Test series with Australia were dealt a potentially fatal blow when Steve Taufel failed to give Michael Slater run out when he appeared to be short of his ground in Sydney on Monday.

Slater, on 35 at the time, went on to make 123 out of a total of 184, leaving the tourists needing an imposing 287 to win at the Sydney Cricket Ground and level the Ashes series at 2-2.

The ICC, however, are rejecting suggestions they should pump money into a scheme to set up four fixed cameras level with the wickets at each side of the ground.

Third umpires currently rely on television replays to adjudicate on tight decisions when the two umpires on the field are undecided.

"We're not looking to fund it at this stage," said Clive Hitchcock, the ICC's cricket operations manager.

"There's a huge cost involved in doing it. Some countries are going down that road and providing square angle cameras at each end - South Africa have that and it's sponsored by Panasonic.

"It's something that we're working on because some countries provide better facilities than others and we're looking to see if we can make it standard across the board.

"But it's the responsibility of the home board to provide camera angles in liaison with the host broadcaster and at this stage, we're not looking to fund it ourselves."

Source :: AFP