Get Instant News Updates
Enable
x
Notification Settings X
Time Settings
Done
Clear Notification X
Do you want to clear all the notifications from your inbox?
Settings X
For Quick Alerts
ALLOW NOTIFICATIONS  
For Daily Alerts
 

India Vs Australia: Virat Kohli controversial dismissal: Why do umpires give the 'Soft Signal'

By giving the 'soft signal' the on-field umpire tells the TV umpire about what he feels about the dismissal and the onus is now on the third umpire to provide a conclusive evidence to prove him wrong.

India Vs Australia: Virat Kohli dismissal at Perth: Why do umpires give the Soft Signal

New Delhi, December 17: It was a business as usual for Virat Kohli in the first innings of the Perth Test as the India captain and batting mainstay slammed yet another gritty hundred as he was looking to steer his team through the troubled waters.

The right-handed batting sensation was looking in sublime touch and it seemed Kohli's going to help India overhaul Australia's first innings total of 326. While batting at 123 and having faced 256 deliveries, Kohli erred to read the out-swinging delivery from Pat Cummins and nicked it.

Kohli dismissal triggers debateKohli dismissal triggers debate

The ball went towards second slip where Peter Handscomb leapt forward to pouch it and claim for the dismissal and the entire Australian side went into jubilation. However, Kohli wasn't really sure if the catch was clean and held his ground.

1
43624

The on-field umpires Kumar Dharamsena and Christopher Gaffaney after a short discussion between them opted to go refer it to the third umpire Nigel Long and seek the help of the slow and ultra slow-motion camera. However, while asking the TV umpire to review if the catch was clean or not, Dharamsena also gave the 'soft signal' as out.

India Vs Australia: </a><a href=Controversial appeals/dismissals" title="India Vs Australia: Controversial appeals/dismissals" />India Vs Australia: Controversial appeals/dismissals

What is the soft signal?

What is the soft signal?

By giving the 'soft signal' the on-field umpire tells the TV umpire about what he feels about the dismissal and the onus is now on the third umpire to provide a conclusive evidence prove his decision wrong.

As per Hemant Buch, a sports broadcaster, the thought behind the soft-signal is that the standing umpires say

"We feel this is out, but why don't you have a look on TV and see if you find any reason for us to change our decision."

The field umpires take the judgement, based on what they saw with three-dimensional vision on the field and on their experience of judging what they see. It then boils down to the TV umpire to find a conclusive evidence to overturn the standing umpire's decision and if he fails to get one, then the on-field umpire's ruling prevails.

Why was Virat Kohli given out?

Why was Virat Kohli given out?

In Virat Kohli's case, the batsman was given out because the TV umpire - despite using the sophisticated cameras, using ultra-slow motion and capturing 300 frames per second - couldn't confirm if the Handscomb's palms were not below the ball when he completed the catch.

Harsha Bhogle's explanation

Veteran commentator Harsha Bhogle in a series of tweets explained why it is tough for the TV umpire to judge close catches (3D action) like these using the 2D cameras.

"I know there will be a lot of debate on the Kohli dismissal but it is critical to note that the law says there must be conclusive evidence to overturn the on-field umpire's decision. Kohli thought it bounced but historically those have been given out. In such matters, we tend to see what we want to see. And I can understand therefore why Indian fans and Aussie fans would have completely different interpretations.

"The key was that the fingers were underneath the ball but there was a gap in the fingers.....And therefore the umpires had to take a call on that. The cameras couldn't tell you more. The bottom line is that technology in such matters is inconclusive and will always be inconclusive because we are seeing a 3-dimensional event in 2 dimensions. And so the verdict tend to go with the on-field umpire."

More explanation from Harsha

"Last word from me. The reason the soft signal was introduced was that a lot of clean catches were being adjudged not out because the TV replays were inconclusive. To get over that, the soft signal became the benchmark which had to be conclusively overturned," he concluded.

Story first published: Monday, December 17, 2018, 14:31 [IST]
Other articles published on Dec 17, 2018