Umpiring in cricket – why is it not the 'hot' job right now?

About a decade ago, cricket, by any means, was not perfect either. Umpires were still making mistakes then, except the fact that they were given less coverage in the media that how it is done now.

While the mistakes were seen more forgivable then, today, with technology by every man’s side, baffling everyone with one wrong decision after another just does not do justice to the sport which is being played for over two centuries.

But why has cricket stooped down to a level where the quality of matches is reduced due to the errors of those behind the stumps and not in front? In a day and age where technology is the key to correcting mistakes that humans commit, why is it that umpires still commit blunders despite clear cut evidence?

These are testing times for the umpires

One of the reasons, as pointed by Simon Taufel in his lecture at the MCC, is how over-reliant the cricketing world has become on technology. According to Taufel, instead of a boon, technology has turned itself into a bane.

With the DRS at the end of every dismissal, third umpires may have become negligent, not using their sense of judgment for rectifying or agreeing with the decision on the pitch. Technology is the sole basis through which they make their decision, getting carried away and overlooking their basic senses.

What perhaps could be additionally stated in favour of Taufel’s opinion is how umpires live in fear of scrutiny since every move on the ground is carefully monitored by millions thanks to technology. Rhetorically speaking, who does not succumb to constant pressure heaped on them in an over-judgmental manner?

To deal with pressure is where neutral umpires could come into play. While the crowds cheer for the two teams taking to the field, there is a possibility that such pressure may not get into the head of a neutral umpire given he does not hold a bias towards any team playing.

But those in the onset of their careers, they may still face the pressure to hold onto their jobs. For this to be rectified, umpires need to be exposed constantly to the routines of their job.

To be an umpire is not the most lucrative job for many. Players plying their trade in the Indian Premier League or the English domestic league receive bigger cash bonuses than several of the game’s top umpires.

Henceforth, marketing the job better or offering more money might be the first real step to get more umpires into the game. The youth needs to find facets that impress them enough to become an umpire – not just a bowler, batsman or even a better paid commentator.

Since the popularity of cricket skyrocketed, rarely did the cricketing fraternity witness a trend in young umpires being recognized for their efforts till the ICC implemented an award in the Annual Awards Ceremony. It might be a time for cricket’s governing council to have an award similar to the Emerging Cricketer of the year – something that could serve as added motivation for the upcoming officials.

Technology might be a useful tool. However, questioning the legitimacy of a decision shouldn’t be more important than the game being played on the cricketing pitch.

There are too many cameras flashing on the ground and umpires would be incredibly lucky to get away with an error.

But for errors to be avoided, ICC needs to mould better and more umpires. It is safe to say we’d rather have a game where the cricket being played is boring, than having two officials in the middle who have no clue about whether they should raise their index finger or shake their head.