Get with the hi-tech times to sort out no-balls

THE time has come for cricket to move out of the Stone Age and get with the technological times in detecting no-balls.

In tennis a sensor tells us whether a serve is in or out. Its findings are beyond question.

In soccer similar systems are used to tell us definitively whether a ball has gone over the goal line.

Yet in cricket no-balls are “sort of’’ judged by umpires who sometimes look down at their feet and sometimes don’t.

Then they are corrected later on suspicion … sometimes. It’s the sloppiest part of the game.

Lion-hearted Pat Cummins did not look to have any part of his foot behind the crease when he snared Mohammad Rizwan caught behind, pictured.

The umpires deferred to a playing condition that suggests when there is doubt it goes to the bowler. But was there doubt? Tight as it was, I couldn’t see any.

If cricket could follow tennis and smarten up its detection of no-balls it would help the standard of umpiring because it would enable the men in the middle to concentrate on the other end of the pitch.

Australia had a strong day with Pakistan displaying the hot, cold and tepid performance for which they are famous.

The tide-turning wicket has become the trademark of Cummins blossoming career and there it was again at the Gabba.

Openers Azhar Ali and Shan Masood were looking far too comfortable for Australia’s liking.

Then Cummins just decided enough was enough. The hard core resistance had to be broken. And the Aussie strike weapon spent a ruthless 10 minute working over brave opener Masood, smacking him on the index finger and finally luring the edge that started a terminal collapse.