'Third umpire should also call the tight on the line wides': Kevin Pietersen

The ongoing T20I series between India and West Indies saw the start of auto no-ball trials. In a desperate attempt to make sure that the front-foot no-balls do not go unnoticed, the ICC decided to try out a new system. While the on-field umpire was previously assigned the responsibility of checking front-foot no-balls, the governing body of the game has now given the responsibility to the third umpire.

While sitting in the match referee’s room, the third umpire will check every delivery and will have all possible angles to check the legitimacy of the ball. If he finds out the bowler has overstepped, he will convey the decision to the main umpire. All this will take place within a few seconds. The system can become permanent if the ICC gets a satisfactory result.

And as the ICC is busy checking the new system, former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has urged them apex body to come up with another decision. The explosive batsman wants the third umpire to check close wide balls too. Kevin Pietersen expressed his proposal after seeing the umpire call some tight wide balls during the second T20I between India and West Indies on Sunday.

“If the 3rd umpire is judging no balls now, he should also call the tight on the line wides,” wrote Kevin Pietersen.

If the 3rd umpire is judging no balls now, he should also call the tight on the line wides.

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) December 8, 2019

On one particular incident, Kieron Pollard had also shown his displeasure after the umpire called one of his deliveries a wide ball against India. The incident took place in the ninth over when he bowled three wide balls outside the off stump.

West Indies thrash India in the second T20I

West Indies, meanwhile, came up with a fine all-round performance to beat India by eight wickets in the second game. The visitors needed to win the game at all cost to keep the three-match series alive and they did exactly that. Bowling first, the Pollard-led side did well to restrict India to 170 for 7 despite Shivam Dube slamming 54 runs from just 30 balls.

In reply, West Indies rode on an unbeaten fifty from Lendl Simmons to chase down the total with nine balls remaining. The series-decider will take place in Mumbai on December 11.

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