Can Cricket Use a Challenge System?

Former Somerset captain Peter Roebuck believes the game of cricket can benefit from an official challenge system to help cut down on several blatant umpiring errors in international cricket.

In a syndicated column appearing in several Australian newspapers, Roebuck jumped into a debate sparked by Brian Lara's recent misfortunes and argued that the ICC should look at the NFL (American football) compromise of allowing a coach to have a set number of challenges per match.

"Obviously the idea of sending every appeal to a third umpire must be rejected as too slow and belittling," Roebuck wrote.

"Instead, consideration could be given to the sort of compromise reached in American football, whereby each coach is allowed four challenges during a match. To question a decision he must throw a red flag onto the field, a move that might provoke a riot in George Bush country. If replays indicate the ref was right then a challenge is forfeited. Compelling evidence is needed before a decision is overturned," he suggested.

Applying the idea to cricket, Roebuck said captains could be allowed two challenges an innings. "The appointed umpires would respond to every appeal. Only challenged verdicts would be sent upstairs. Not much time would be lost. Moreover the number of replays should be limited. If the umpire cannot make up his mind in four viewings then the batsman isn't out," he added.

With Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels out of contention for the third and final Test in Adelaide, it's almost certain that Wavell Hinds and Dwayne Smith will return to the side.

In his second Test preview that appears in several Caribbean papers, Tony Cozier said Gayle's decision to undergo heart surgery "guarantees" Hinds will join Devon Smith at the top of the order.

Cozier also believes that 23-year-old Dwayne Smith will get a chance to put back on track. "A dangerous, but inconsistent power-hitter at No.7 and capable medium-pace bowler, his main value in the previous Tests has been in the field as a super substitute. He was in the spotlight in the Hobart Test in which he held two catches and claimed a run out," Cozier writes.

In the Jamaica Observer, there's an AFP piece discussing the third Test outlook from an Aussie perspective. The article centres around the sacking of Michael Clark and suggests that the Australians are showing a lack of patience with 'underperforming' players.

"National selectors are showing little sentiment as they toss out players down on form, even though the team is winning easily against the spasmodic tourists."

Wisden Cricinfo also weighs in on the omission of Clark with quotes and reactions from Mark and Steve Waugh. Steve believes Clarke can keep his attacking mindset and succeed as a Test player while Mark Waugh still expects him to captain Australia.

"I said he'd be a captain in years to come and I still think he will be...he's got a great cricket brain," Mark Waugh said. "It's certainly not the end of the world for Michael Clarke, he's just got to get back and enjoy himself."

Over at WindiesCricket.com, a CMC article includes quotes from Brian Lara on his poor run of form -- and luck -- so far this series.

"It would really be nice to come to Adelaide again and get some runs finally," Lara said. "I have been here for two months and unable to get any sort of runs. I am looking forward to it and optimistic that things can turn around for me. I think it's going to be a good Test match."

Lara has scored only 102 runs from four innings so far in the series, which could be the final tour of Australia for the 36-year-old Trinidadian. Yet he brushed aside questions about any possible disappointment at the three dubious umpiring decisions that went against him in his four innings so far against the Australians, only saying "these things happen in cricket."

The Trinidad Guardian is reporting that former Trinidad & Tobago minister of Sport Manohar Ramsaran is interested replacing Alloy Lequay as CEO of the local cricket board.

Ramsaran, who has not sent in an application for the post, said he was interested in the job only because he wants to contribute to the sport under the new regime led by former Test player Deryck Murray.

"I have always been very close to the cricket and I am willing to serve in any capacity under Deryck Murray. I have not applied for the post of chief executive officer but if I am given the call, I will respond positively," Ramsaran told the paper.

Ramsaran is the president of the Joe Public Munroe Road cricket club which campaigns in division II of the Carib National league.

The University of the West Indies' Cave Hill Campus is seeking to construct a permanent stadium in preparation for 3Ws Oval to host warm-up Group D for the World Cup 2007 tournament.

That's the word from Venue Development Director of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 Donald Lockerbie, who disclosed that UWI officials are "working towards a legacy of 2,000 to 4,000 permanent seating" for the venue.

The 3Ws Oval is slated to host four practice fixtures featuring Bangladesh, New Zealand, Scotland and Sri Lanka from March 5-9, 2007.

In the Guyana Chronicle, Ravendra Madholall interviews new Guyana captain Reon King on his expectations for the team in this year's Carib Beer-sponsored four-day cricket competition.

King aid that his team will obviously miss the services of their two most senior players -- Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan -- for the first two matches. "Those two guys will definitely be missed in our team for the two matches against Barbados and Windward Islands on home soil, but I think we have a relatively good experienced team to put up a fight," King said.