(Cricinfo) West Indies Captain Chris Gayle believes the umpire review system is still too complicated and is especially tough to use on caught-behind decisions after a failed West Indies challenge confirmed their 35-run defeat at the hands of Australia yesterday. The final wicket fell when Kemar Roach was given out to an edge off Doug Bollinger and the batsman asked for a review of Billy Bowden’s call.
It led to strange climax for the Test, as the Australians were standing around thinking they had won, while Roach and his partner Gavin Tonge waited to see if they could bat on. Although there was no mark on Hot Spot, the replays did not conclusively prove that the ball had not hit the bat and the third umpire Asad Rauf upheld Bowden’s decision.
“It seems like it will be a difficult one when it comes to caught-behind,” Gayle said. “It looked difficult on telly when they do get an edge, so it’s a tough call.
“It’s still complicated, it’s always going to be their call, they can refer all they want but at the end of the day it’s the third umpire who has the final call, so it’s very complicated. Based on what you saw on the telly, you can share your views.”
Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting conceded that marginal caught-behinds were not the blatant howlers that the system was introduced to eradicate, but he said in the same situation his players would have also asked for a review. Ponting was happy with the way the final decision was handled.
“They’ve got two up their sleeve, they’re nine wickets down, and they need 30-odd to win, and it was a really faint edge,” Ponting said. “Anyone would’ve used it in that situation.
“If you look back to Adelaide there were probably a couple similar to that that might’ve snuck through. You can’t blame the batsman for doing it. I think that was a really good decision by the on-field umpire and I think it was handled really well back in here as far as the third umpire side of things went as well. I believe nothing showed up on Hot Spot. That’s really good umpiring as far as I’m concerned.”