Sachin wants umpires’ role reduced

Umpires should be left to adjudge only leg-before decisions while technology can take care of the rest, said Sachin Tendulkar.

Umpires should be left to adjudge only leg-before decisions while technology can take care of the rest, said Sachin Tendulkar.

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Tendulkar, 36, who begins his 21st year in international cricket next month, even advocated rotating on-field umpires every session of a Test match to give them adequate rest, but denounced the referral system.

Tendulkar, a veteran of 159 Tests and 431 one-day internationals, said he was in favour of more technology in cricket to make the umpire's task more accurate.

“It is tough for the umpires to watch the no-balls and see what's happening in the front,” he was quoted as saying on a website.

“For basic line decisions, like no-balls and run outs, you must have a laser or something like that. Something like what you have in tennis to decide serves. You can call it (a no-ball) with a machine.”

Tendulkar said bat-pad decisions can be relied on television X-ray technology called “hot spots” which clearly illustrate the first point of contact of the ball — either pad or bat.

“I'm quite happy with the hot spot because that establishes the contact. For caught behind and all, the hot spot is handy. You don't need a machine.”