The standards of umpiring are under heavy criticism in the ongoing first Ashes Test as England bowler Ben Stokes as many as 14 no-balls, but only two of those were called the third umpire. As per the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) latest guidelines, the third umpire is obliged to make the no-ball call which was previously adjudged by on-field umpire.
The controversy came to the fore on Day 2 of first Test at the Gabba as Australia opener David Warner was batting on 17 in the 13th over of Australia's innings. Stokes got Warner bowled out but the English bowler knew he had overstepped and the decision was confirmed by third umpire Paul Wilson. The star English all-rounder had crossed the popping crease on multiple occasions but was pointed out only once.
An analysis made by Channel 7 for Australian television showed that Stokes had bowled 14 no-balls in the match. More importantly in the 13th over of the match, Stokes had bowled four no-balls in a row. The technical glitch irked former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting as he termed it as “pathetic officiating”.
"If it's someone upstairs who is supposed to checking these, and they haven't decided that any of those are a no-ball, its pathetic officiating as far as I'm concerned. If (Stokes) had been called for a no-ball the first one he bowled, then of course he is going to drag his foot back," Ponting was quoted as saying by Channel 7.
The ICC’s guidelines which were brought into effect read, "The third umpire shall review television replays of the bowler's front foot landing and, if he/she is satisfied that any of these three conditions have not been met, he/she shall immediately advise the bowler's end umpire who shall in turn immediately call and signal No-ball.”
The standards of the umpiring have come under great scrutiny in recent times as recently concluded India vs New Zealand series also witnessed multiple decisions being overturned. Although the use of ‘no-ball technology' is not available for the Ashes, the standards of umpiring still needed to be up to the mark. It now remains to be seen how the ICC reacts to the no-ball fiasco.
