Hot Spot & Snicko still in with a shout!

According to the BBC Hot Spot could yet be part of the decision review system in the Ashes series in Australia, despite the host broadcaster Channel Nine's refusal to pay for the technology. The same Channel Nine that rushed to report alleged use of Silicon by England players on the edges of their bats to avoid detection by Hot Spot - Without a shred of concrete evidence!

The heat-sensor tool proved controversial during England's summer Ashes win, but negotiations are under way for it to be utilised this winter. England back its use, and Snicko, another umpiring aid, may also feature."All we want as players is absolute clarity," said England's Ian Bell.

Hot Spot forms part of the system, using heat sensors and infrared cameras to determine what, if anything, the ball has made contact with.DRS was introduced in 2009, after an earlier trial, to help on-field umpires decide if a batsman should be given out.

Hot Spot inventor, Warren Brennan, had said the technology would be scrapped for the winter series amid concerns over its cost and reliability.The system came under scrutiny during England's 3-0 victory at home when several faint edges appeared to go undetected, with Brennan claiming protective tape on players' bats was diminishing its effectiveness.

Former England captain (and worryingly hyperbolic) Michael Vaughan said at the time Hot Spot "had to go", adding Brennan had "admitted his system will not work".

Snicko, meanwhile, uses sound from stump microphones to help detect if a batsman has edged the ball. "I've always been a fan of DRS," said England wicketkeeper Matt Prior. "If you are going to take the time out of the game, you have to get the right decision. So if we have more technology, better technology, fine. Use it all but as long as it's correct and accurate, that's the only thing. 

"If the powers that be deem that Hot Spot is working again then fantastic, let's use it."
England drew their first warm up match against the Western Australia Chairman's XI in Perth and now travel to Hobart to face Australia A in a four-day game starting on 6 November.

The 1st Test v Australia in Brisbane begins on 21 November.

DRS (Decision Review System)

Amidst the vast amount of chatter about the DRS, one thing seems to have by-passed the majority of viewpoints. You don't have to use it. Just beacause it is an option to question the umpires decision, it doesn't mean you have to.

The current system is fundamentally flawed by the arbitary nature of only being applicable for up to two unsuccessful reviews. Surely, the whole point of having the DRS is to enable the proper decision to be upheld, the fact that 'fairness' goes out of the window after two misjudgements by the referring side is a nonsense.

However, current Aussie captain Ricky Ponting believs that the players word should be taken as gospel with regard to disputed close to ground catches. However, he is more than happy to refer any decision by the umpires to review if he doesn't like the outcome. Not for the first time the dank odour of hypocrisy starts to rise from the soggy remnants of a Punter outburst. If he wants his players decisions to be respected then he should do the same with the umpires' and therefore he should refuse to sanction any referrals by the Australian team for the rest of this summer!

It would then give him the higher moral ground from which to challenge the ICC to pass the sole decision back to the righful owners, the umpires (with or without the aid of technology).

Will it happen? Will it heck as like! There is more chance of Australia apologising for bowling underarm!

Jardine