Page 86 – POST, August 10, 2019 The case for fixing sporting replays to pick up. THE In England’s fateful second innings, skipper was SPORTING twice given out LBW when the review showed he’d hit the ball on to his pads. with Australian Replays and reviews are so Football Hall of Famer ingrained in today’s AUSTIN ROBERTSON it’s easy to forget the contro- versy that once attended their What a Test match. What a inclusion. Test match for the Aussies! Remember when India Obviously the game belonged wouldn’t have a bar of DRS? to , making one of They fi nally capitulated, be- the greatest comebacks in all cause even they could see that sport (leaving aside the circum- the game had to be played on stances that meant he had to an even playing fi eld. “come back” at all). DRS was brought in initially to He was the game’s super- get rid of the howlers, mistakes dooper star, but he had a great made by umpires that were green-and-gold supporting cast. clearly incorrect. As we know, was damn near humans err. unplayable on the last day – it’s But it’s doing much more. a fair argument whether even Not all of the incorrect deci- Warnie could have been more sions made during the fi rst Test destructive – and the quicks, were “howlers”. especially Pat Cummings, more Most were marginal. And it’s than did their bit. to be remembered that these ’s re-emergence decisions must be made in an as a specialist batsman after a eye-blink. It stands to reason long absence from the Test team that the umpires will pull the was remarkable, and Travis wrong rein at times. Head, who is averaging just a So replays are here, and here tick under the magical 50 in his to stay. nine Tests, continues to look While it undoubtedly works, very solid. it can work much better than It was a brilliant effort, but Umpire Aleem Dar calls Aussie opener LBW at Edgbaston. was evidenced in the fi rst Test. it mightn’t be what the game is The system of challenges is most remembered for. called the shots. a vociferous appeal after Pattinson was LBW to Broad. good for the game, but how they If you grew up in the 1960s or But today the decisions of our England thought they had The batsman opted to review, are administered is not. 70s, you would be well aware game’s adjudicators are being caught behind perhaps due to the presence of Replay should be able to cor- that football and cricket umpires brought into question. off . Their review key man Smith at the other end, rect umpiring errors without are fallible. Technology hasn’t quite taken was successful as UltraEdge and the replay showed the ball limitation, as is currently the They make mistakes of a , but it’s only a matter of picked up the faintest of edges would have missed leg stump. case with run-outs. human kind. time before it does. from Australia’s was If the technology is there to As kids we knew when a goal The opening day of the No.3. LBW to Woakes, ac- get it right, why not? So, when umpire had made a blue by Edgbaston Test was one umpires England were cording to Wilson. in doubt, refer through DRS. signalling a behind when ev- Aleem Dar and Joel Wilson joyous as Steve The opening A review process What’s happening in our foot- erybody knew it was a goal; or, would rather forget, after each Smith padded up day of the proved the umpire ball is far more spurious. in cricket, when the ump fi red of them made one incorrect de- to a wrong, as a massive We get the DRS on whether his fi nger skywards giving a ‘ cision after another, painfully and Dar Edgbaston Test inside edge was or not a goal or point has been batsman out LBW, when we all exposed by the decision review raised the fi nger. revealed. scored. knew when he had smashed the system (DRS). An aghast Smith was one Can it get any The ridiculous system plagues cover off the thing. David Warner was given not reviewed almost worse than this? our football every weekend, and Fast-forward to the year 2000 out by umpire Dar after getting immediately and umpires Aleem Well, yes, it can. should never have been intro- and beyond and, as if by magic, a thin edge down the leg side Hawkeye showed Dar and Joel In Australia’s duced in a half-arsed manner. we’re neck-deep in the techno- from Stuart Broad. the ball missing second innings, The AFL should scrub it logical revolution. Four balls later, Dar judged off stump. Wilson would Matthew Wade was before obvious gremlins in the I was born in the day when Warner LBW to Broad for two. Just seven balls given out LBW to system end up deciding the toilets didn’t fl ush, and we did The opener barely consulted later, Wilson rather forget Broad. Thankfully, result of a grand fi nal. without microwaves, refrigera- his partner turned down an DRS overturned Poor, confusing and disruptive tion, not to mention laptops and before walking off, but replays LBW appeal from that mistake too. decisions are bad enough, but the internet. showed he should have reviewed Chris Woakes against Matthew And’ by the time you’d reached the AFL’s new system is doing Those were the days when the decision, with Broad’s de- Wade. The Poms reviewed and for Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, damage on a grander scale. Homo sapiens controlled eve- livery projected to slide down another on-fi eld decision was under-edged one At a base level you’d have to rything, particularly on the the leg side. overturned. to , which only say the system sees fewer incor- sporting fi elds where umpires Umpire Wilson turned down Dar later decided James a television camera managed rect decisions made, it just looks bad – and really stupid – when somebody gets it wrong, despite having many different angles Hundreds of hopefuls prepping for schools titles and plenty of time to look at any scores in doubt. SURFING Students will compete in We’re told that every goal is teams of two, lining up in junior reviewed. By CAMERON BEDFORDBROWNb (under-16) and senior divisions Well, that’s small beer if the (under-19), catering for boys ball has already been bounced More than 500 young surfers and girls in both surfi ng and before a fi nal decision has been bodyboarding. reached. from about 50 metropolitan The winning teams from the Incorrect decisions are still and regional schools will take state fi nal at Trigg will qualify being made and this is unac- part in the Western Australian to represent WA and their ceptable. School Surfi ng Titles over the schools at the Australian Junior Like their cricket umpiring next few weeks. Surfi ng Titles on home turf at brethren, the football umps Surfi ng WA events manager Margaret River in December. don’t want to be shamed or Justin Majeks said excitement Margaret River Senior High ridiculed on the big stage. was building in classrooms and School will once again be the But at the moment the AFL is playgrounds around the state as team to beat, competing for a making dodgy decisions based competitors prepared to share record 14th consecutive school on poorly-placed cameras that the stoke of surfi ng. title. seem to roll on slowly like for- “Surfi ng WA is excited to Margaret River’s surf- gotten clips from a Friday-night join forces again with long- academy boasts many highly movie at an old cinema. term partner SunSmart, accomplished surfers including While the system is supposed who have been integral to brothers Ben and Jed Gradisen, to be making the game better, it the development of surfing Zali Hewson, Danny Benedetti, is making the game worse. throughout WA over many Arabelle Gibson and Dylan The solution is to throw out years through their support of Vernon. the current DRS system lock, events,” Justin said. Despite Margaret River’s stock and barrel, until they can “The School Surfing dominance over the years, there put in a system that works. Titles is one of WA’s largest are many other schools tipped In life, we live with human participation-based events of to challenge them in 2019. error. It’s a part of our DNA. the year, with fi ve regional and Carine Senior High School, There can’t be any arguments fi ve metropolitan qualifying Mandurah Catholic College, for not using DRS – sport must events. Margaret River Senior High School surfer Ben Gradisen will be going Nagle Catholic College and keep abreast of the times. “Beginning next week in all out to make sure his school secures its 14th straight win during the Albany Senior High School all But it must also be accurate Geraldton, it offers a unique Schoolies this month. Photo: Surfi ng WA/ Majeks have experienced and talented and administered correctly. opportunity for students to students set to represent their Until then it’s not a matter of surf and bodyboard with their incorporate surfi ng into their head to the beach and hit the schools. the system being broken; it’s the schoolmates and peers in a safe, curriculum. waves on a school day. Locally, Christ Church system that’s breaking the game. relaxed and fun environment. “Many schools now offer “The titles also provide a Grammar School and St Hilda’s “This is a great chance for surfi ng as part of their physical unique stepping-stone for Anglican School for Girls have Like the POST us to engage with students or outdoor education programs students to reach higher levels performed admirably in the and schools that actively and kids love the opportunity to of competition.” past. on facebook