Recommended extra review in Tests because of inexperience of local umpires: Kumble

New Delhi, May 26

ICC Cricket Committee chairman Anil Kumble says the inexperience of local umpires, who are expected to officiate in Test matches once action resumes post the COVID-19 pandemic, is the reason behind recommending an extra review, which according to him will give a level playing field to both the teams.

Besides recommending against the usage of saliva on the ball, the Kumble-led ICC Cricket Committee has also suggested for local umpires and additional review in Test matches when the cricket resumes.

Reasoning the ICC Cricket Committee’s recommendations, the former India captain said the suggestion to use of local umpires was made because of travel restrictions around the world in the wake of the pandemic.

“I think the need of hour was to start cricket. We also felt that because of travel restrictions, there could be quarantine measures. You don’t have too many elite umpires in the panel. So, we felt that for cricket to kick-start, its best to use local umpires,” Kumble said on Star Sports show Cricket Connected.

“Most countries don’t have the experience, the local umpires don’t have the experience of a Test Match or being part of a Test match. The reason that we started neutral umpiring 20 years ago was because there was the perception of a bias,” said Kumble.

“The recommendation for an extra review for both teams is not to root that out but we felt that there could be potential inexperience being in a Test match situation, which is why the advantage of the additional review would probably benefit both the teams,” he added.

While the ICC Cricket Committee recommended a ban on the usage of saliva to shine the ball, it didn’t felt sweat would pose a serious health risk. PTI