Bird irate at ECB
PTI, London
England and Wales Cricket Board's latest announcement that players would be able to challenge umpires' decision in a limited-overs tournament has irked Dickie Bird, who said it signalled the age of "glorified hat stands".The ECB has announced plans which allow county players to refer decisions to the TV umpire, in this season's 50-over Friends Provident Trophy. Only the captain of the fielding side and the batsman involved in the dismissal may refer a decision, under the new plans each team is allowed two unsuccessful referrals per innings on all modes of dismissal, except batsmen being timed out for taking more than two minutes to reach the crease at the fall of a wicket. But Bird said the Board were taking away umpires' integrity.
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