Shepherd welcomes technology help

Shepherd welcomes technology help
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

MUMBAI, FEB 22: International Cricket Council panel umpire David Shepherd feels that technology has been a big help in getting the correct decisions most of the time.

``As technology improves, more help should be taken from it,'' said the portly English umpire who is to stand in the first India-South Africa Test commencing here on Thursday with Srinivas Venkatraghavan at the other end.

Shepherd, who is to be felicitated here for completing 50 Tests by ICC panel umpires' sponsors National Grid, told reporters here that the established umpires have got more opportunities only after the panel had been set up.

But he did not want both the umpires to be from a third country in a Test match, as has been suggested often by former Pakistan captain Imran Khan, as it would deny the home country umpire from officiating in a tie at home.

``The third umpire has been of great help. And looking from the point of view of the players' behaviour, the match referee too has been of great help as he has the power to punish errant players,'' he said.

``Players must remember to play the game in the right manner as they are the role models,'' he added in this context.

He did not want to discuss about the controversial issue of `chucking'. Asked whether the current law on the matter was clear enough, he said ``I do not want to get involved in the issue at all.''

Queried whether the teams from the sub-continent indulged in excessive appealing, Shepherd said, ``sometimes''.