Arthur welcomes use of reviews
Mickey Arthur welcomed apparent confirmation that the ICC's decision review system will be used in the England-SA Test series.
The system - first trialled between England and West Indies last winter and now refined to include only two permissible failed challenges per side in each innings - is in place for the ongoing series between Pakistan and New Zealand.
The intention is for it to be introduced universally. But indications last week were that it would not be in operation in the series in South Africa, starting next month, because of a wrangle between the home board and the world governing body over how the required technology should be funded.
It seems those hitches have been overcome - and South Africa coach Arthur has made it clear he is very much in favour of the new system, albeit with qualms over residual grey areas as to which technology will be available to help the third umpire reach the correct decision.
Hawkeye, hotspot and other devices are supposed to be in use. But if funding issues do prevent access to some technological aids, Arthur admits he will be concerned.
"I definitely support it. There's no doubt I think it's the right way to go," he said.
"I'm not 100% sure on the actual detail yet, how much of it we are going to use and what is going to be available.
"I hope if we are going to use it we go the whole hog and get all the technology available. I think that's key to making it a success."
Arthur appears prepared to accept minor inequalities in the availability of the technology in the short term - as long as a level playing field is achieved globally in the end.
"If we're going to do it it should be standard around the world," he believes.
"If they are going to have it at such an unbelievable level with what is available from Sky in England, it should be at that level throughout the world.
"I'm pretty sure that ultimately the goal is going to be to standardise it."
Arthur has more immediate decisions to make long before the four-Test series gets under way - because his team are 1-0 down with three matches to play in their one-day international series against England.
The hosts have announced fast bowler Morne Morkel will join the one-day squad tomorrow, two days before the next match at Newlands.
Arthur conceded the summoning of Morkel is partly because of his fellow pace bowler Wayne Parnell's injury niggles but also to help the former prepare for a Test series in which the coach predicts he will be a major player.
"The view with that is we are not 100% sure where Wayne Parnell is yet," he said.
"We sent him to play club cricket on Sunday. He bowled six overs and seemed to come through okay. But we are just going to have a look at him through the week.
"It is certainly not a panic call-up. Morne is going to be integral, certainly at the start of the Test series - and we feel we want him around the group and can keep working with him now."
Arthur has also confirmed he has requested consistency over calling no-balls over waist high in his report to the umpires, after a minor controversy which reprieved Eoin Morgan in England's seven-wicket win at Centurion last weekend.
He was more concerned, though, with South Africa's off-colour performance there - adding he has no doubt his team need to go up a gear against talented opponents.
"I was a little bit disappointed with our all-round game," he said.
"I thought we should have got more (runs). I thought we were 30 short.
"Then apart from the first 20 overs, we couldn't put enough pressure on with the ball.
"We know we have to improve. We know we're in for a long, hard summer now.
"I saw enough of England during the ICC Champions Trophy to know that they're a very good side, who on their day can beat anybody.
"Their hassle has probably been their consistency but that makes them a very dangerous side, and I haven't been surprised by how well they've played."
Grab the espnstar.com cricket widget on your favourite social network
Powered by Disqus
Join us on Facebook