Jason Holder pressed for an finish to cricket’s insistence on household umpires due to the coronavirus pandemic.© AFP
West Indies captain Jason Holder pressed Monday for an finish to cricket’s insistence on household umpires mainly because of the coronavirus pandemic, despite the fact that he had no critical complaints about the officiating in New Zealand. Speaking immediately after the West Indies suffered back-to-back heavy losses to the Black Caps when only New Zealand officials have been in charge, Holder mentioned a fairer method would be to have an umpire from each nations on duty. The International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced neutral umpires 26 years ago to finish accusations of household-group bias.
But with the Covid-19 disruption to international sport and the “logistical challenges with international travel” the ICC rescinded the rule this year to once again enable for household umpires and match referees.
Holder mentioned in any Test series there would be questionable choices and he believed the New Zealand umpires “did a reasonable job” as the Black Caps coasted to a very first Test victory by an innings and 134 runs and won the second by an innings and 12 runs.
“But, I don’t understand a situation where we’re having home umpires,” he mentioned.
“If we can travel and do a quarantine, I don’t see why an opposing (team) umpire can’t do the travel and quarantine. If players are making the sacrifice and go on the road and continue cricket then I feel as though the umpires should do the same.
“If it is a case exactly where you get a household and an opposing umpire to do a Test match then I consider that is fair.”