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PERTH - The next head of world cricket has flagged more help from technology and giving players tennis-style challenges to rid the sport of the wrong decisions that have blighted the Test series between Australia and India.
International Cricket Council (ICC) president-elect David Morgan believes close leg before decisions could soon be referred to the third umpire and that the sport had to prepare to "embrace technology".
Umpiring has been a major factor this series, as several incorrect decisions during the second test in Sydney aggrieved India so much they successfully had umpire Steve Bucknor dumped from the third test in Perth.
Then at the WACA Ground, umpire Asad Rauf failed to factor in the extra bounce and gave two Indians and one Australian out to leg before appeals where it looked like the ball would clear the stumps.
New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden, who replaced Bucknor, also gave a contentious leg before dismissal on the fourth and final day, as Andrew Symonds might have edged the ball into his pad before India beat the home side by 72 runs.
Morgan, who will assume the ICC presidency in May, said technology was almost advanced enough that it could help a third umpire adjudicate in close LBW decisions.
He also hinted players might be able to challenge line-ball decisions and have them referred for review, as happens now in tennis.
Third umpires are only called on to officiate on run outs and stumpings, as most contentious catches sent to video review prove inconclusive.
"I believe with an improvement in technology, the third umpire could be called upon at the request of the cricketers to assist the on-field umpires," Morgan said.
"I'm quite sure that the executive board, when it meets in Dubai in March, will be looking at the prospect of embracing more technology."
Morgan said the Hawkeye programme used by broadcasters to hypothesise on leg before decisions was not yet ready to be used as a definitive tool.
"Technology needs to be improved and I believe we need to embrace it and we need to embrace it in a way that doesn't diminish the authority of the on-field umpires, and I believe it's feasible," he said.
"But with progress and improvement, perhaps we can come to a state - and please hear the word 'perhaps' - where we can embrace more technology."
Morgan said advanced technology would need to be trialled in a test before it became common practice and that could occur in the "not too distant future".
On contentious catches, Morgan said it was paramount the batsman received the benefit of any doubt.
One policy that will not change is having neutral umpires.
Some commentators and fans argue the best umpires should stand at banner events regardless of their nationality.
That would have meant Australia's Simon Taufel, widely considered the best umpire in the business, would have taken charge of last year's World Cup final and this summer's series.
Morgan said the standard of umpiring was "very good" and maintained the ICC's policy on neutral umpires would continue.
"I believe all umpires are neutral and I believe that our policy of engaging in only third country umpires is the right one," he said.
- AAP
