If the New Zealand team want more accuracy in test match umpiring decisions, they need to become more marketable.
That's the reality after both openers were dismissed in the second innings of the second test against Pakistan via the decision review system. Without the aid of infrared-imaging system Hot Spot or the newly International Cricket Council-approved "Real-Time Snicko" audio technology, the decisions were left to the eyes rather than the ears of television umpire Rod Tucker to adjudicate.
The Pakistan Cricket Board and host broadcaster Ten Sports have not provided either tool for this series because they're too expensive. Neither party can recoup the costs of installation because New Zealand, despite their successes of the past year, are still not a team which inspires sponsors to invest, although the same situation applied for the Australia series last month.
Tom Latham swept a Yasir Shah delivery which lobbed to Asad Shafiq at leg slip. On-field umpire Ranmore Martinesz gave it out on the basis it hit glove. Latham requested a review, presumably because he believed the ball only hit his forearm. The replay was inconclusive but, because a decision had been made in Pakistan's favour, Martinesz was given the benefit of the doubt rather than the batsman; a DRS quirk.
Pakistan's review of Brendon McCullum's lbw to Zulfiqar Babar for 45 was the first upheld decision in the match. To untrained eyes, as well as those of umpire Paul Reiffel, it looked like it hit bat first. The slow-mo disagreed, and the ball-tracker did the rest.
