Cricket umpires to be wired for sound to explain decisions to viewers

Viewers will be taken from the lounge room into the mind of the third umpire as part of an innovation in which the official presiding over the decision review system will be miked up on television to explain every step of his verdict.

Plans are in place to unveil the initiative next Friday during Channel Nine's telecast of the first one-day international between Australia and South Africa in Perth. If the trial is successful it will also feature in selected matches in next year's World Cup.

This will enable umpires involved to become familiar with the change and comfortable with having their thoughts aired live on TV in time for the International Cricket Council's showpiece event.

The third umpire, who will not be seen, will be fitted with a microphone and directed to effectively think out loud as they deliberate every aspect of a decision referred to them by the players or the two on-field officials, who will also be miked up.Whereas previously viewers could see the umpires talking, now they will be able to hear what they are saying and how the third umpire has reached his decision.

Decisions referred to the video umpire outside the decision review system, such as whether a chance has carried to a fielder, will also be discussed live.

For example, in a leg before wicket appeal the third umpire will be heard assessing footage as to whether the delivery was a noball, if it pitched in line, had hit in line and whether it was on track to hit the stumps.

Viewers will be able to hear why the third umpire has made a ruling and, if the footage is inconclusive, his explanation for requesting a close-up or a different camera angle to help him make a decision.

The umpire's reasoning will be particularly fascinating in scenarios that do not appear clear-cut even with the aid of slow motion replays.

This may be an lbw shout where it is difficult to determine whether the ball has hit the pad or bat first, or a stumping or run out appeal where it is unclear if a batsman has grounded his bat behind the line before a bail has been dislodged.

It is not uncommon in such instances for doubt to be caused by factors such as the fading of the crease, the shadow of a batsman's foot or bat or whether a bail has been fully dislodged from its groove.

"Rather than just see the umpire's decision we can get an insight into why they've made it or why they're sending decisions up to the third umpire and what their concerns are," Nine executive producer of cricket Brad McNamara said.

"It'll be great for the viewers to hear all that and get a better insight into the decision-making process in the middle.

"Now we'll hear they've made a decision and what they're thinking. It'll take a lot of the doubt and mystery out of some decisions.

"And we'll also hear the third umpire talking, which we've never heard before – what shots he's looking for from the broadcaster to assist the umpires on the field get the right decision in the end.

"It adds a bit more to that process."