Cricket: Bowden wants pact on catches

PERTH - New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden believes the Australian and Pakistan cricketers can avoid controversy over contentious catches by agreeing to take the opposition's word in the coming test series.

Bowden, who will control the first test with South African Rudi Koertzen, starting in Perth on Thursday, would like rival skippers Ricky Ponting and Inzamam-ul-Haq to agree for batsmen to take a fieldsman's word over doubtful catches.

Bowden said he orchestrated a pact between Australia and Sri Lanka in March and that by taking the word of fielders, the series was played in a good spirit.

Australia and New Zealand could not initiate a similar pact this summer and in the first test in Brisbane, New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan stood his ground despite edging a delivery to Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.

McMillan and Gilchrist later had two heated exchanges and New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming said several Australians were on a "walking crusade".

Bowden would like an agreement between Australia and Pakistan, but will leave it to the teams.

"If they want to come to us and say that, brilliant, beautiful," he said.

"But I don't think from an umpiring point of view we're going to make things happen."

Bowden, who has stood in 21 tests, said he was disappointed teams across the world were not taking the opposition's word on contentious catches and runouts.

"I believe in honesty whether it's on the field or off the field," he said.

"I just think for the good of the game, for the spirit of the game, it's unfair to have someone knowing that they have not caught the ball and [the batsman] has been given out, or [the fielder] has caught the ball and [the batsman has] not been given out.

"I like to see some loyalty and integrity to be put back in the game.

"I don't mind players not walking if they hit it; that's fine, it's up to them.

"But when it's a black and white decision about whether they've been caught or not, surely, if you can't rely on a player what can you rely on in a game of cricket these days?"

He said the onus should be on players to avoid potential conflict.

Bowden, 41, who officiated at two Perth district matches at the weekend to refamiliarise himself with his duties after five weeks off, has also embraced technology for close run- out and stumping decisions.

But he said the International Cricket Council should resist the temptation to introduce the use of freeze frame camera shots for contentious catches and Channel Nine's "Hawkeye" programme for leg before wicket shouts, as neither was perfect.

"It's all about timing and how far to go. I just fear that too much of something is not good for you," he said.

"I'm sure the players would like to see umpires still make the decisions even though they moan and groan when they get a bad one going against them.

"I still think the traditions of the game and the beauty of the game is it's played by humans and should be run be humans."

- AAP