Jayawardena calls for change after Pant IPL incident

Mumbai Indians coach and ICC Hall of Famer Mahela Jayawardena wants to see greater communication between video umpires and on-field adjudicators and has called for change.

Jayawardena, speaking on The ICC Review, has made the recommendation on the back of the controversial finish to the IPL match between Delhi Capitals and Rajasthan Royals last week, where the umpires on the field seemingly missed a clear-cut waist-high full toss in the final over of the run chase.

The DC camp were infuriated with the missed call, as skipper Rishabh Pant displayed his displeasure from the bench and assistant coach Pravin Amre stormed onto the field to approach the umpires about the decision as the Royals held on for the victory.

Both Pant and Amre were fined 100 per cent of their match fee for their behaviour and Amre was also handed a one-match ban for entering the field, a move condemned by Jayawardena.

Clause 21.5 of the ICC Playing Conditions states “The third umpire shall review television replays of the bowler’s front foot landing and, if he/she is satisfied that any of these three conditions have not been met, he/she shall immediately advise the bowler’s end umpire who shall in turn immediately call and signal No ball.”

However, the clause makes no mention of the third umpire being able to check for waist-high full tosses and Jayawardena has urged authorities to use the incident in the IPL as a wake-up call to make better use of video umpires in the future.

“It is something going forward that I think we need to look at,” Jayawardena told Sanjana Ganesan on The ICC Review.

“Is there an option for the third umpire to look at these things and inform the main umpires that it is a delivery that should be checked?

“It was disappointing to see that when you stop a game and have people come on to the field, but I honestly believe it was just emotions carrying over in the last over.

“A couple of sixes were hit and there was an opportunity that probably the umpires did get it wrong.

“But the rules say you can’t go to the third umpire to check on those things.”

Jayawardena said it was not a good look for the game to have Amre enter the playing field to dispute the decision.

“The spirit of the game and to see things moving forward, it is never an option for a player or a coach to come on to the field,” Jayawardena said.

“We (coaches) have the ability to come on to the field during the strategic time out at the IPL and that should be the only time that coaches or anyone else should be allowed on the field.”

Jayawardena said he discussed the incident with his Mumbai Indians squad and reminded them of their obligations during a match.

“We saw it on television. Most of the guys were watching it together and afterwards we had a chat,” the Sri Lanka legend said.

“We probably would have reacted similarly in the dugout, but it is never an option to go on to the field.

“That is not the way things should be and I am pretty sure that both Rishabh and Pravin would both regret what happened.

“I think Rishabh said it was the emotions and I think we need to give him the benefit of the doubt and move on.”

Jayawardena’s current thoughts are on trying to help his side move off the bottom of the IPL table and register their first win of the tournament.

The star-studded MI have yet to gel through eight winless matches and Jayawardena said his team’s batters need to lift their performance.

“For us, it is mainly with our batters, and that has been highlighted in the last few games as well,” he said.

“We have been in positions to win but have not been able to execute.

“It is tough for both coaches and players as well because every game becomes even more harder to cross that line and get that first win.

“We are taking it one game at a time, trying to settle everyone down and the players need to trust their ability and back themselves more as the tournament progresses.”

Jayawardena has already won three IPL titles as a coach in Mumbai but admits he is still working on finding the right way to pass on the advice given to him by the likes of former coaches Dav Whatmore and Tom Moody to his side’s younger players.

The Sri Lanka great, who was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame at the end of last year, said each new day as a coach provides him with fresh challenges and outlooks that he attempts to pass on to his players.

“There are quite a few different ways you have to approach this new generation,” Jayawardena acknowledged when asked about his modern coaching philosophies.

“It helps me to know what I have learnt and how it can be transferred to the new generation because the game has different demands at the moment with all the different formats.

“Every day we are learning about different competitions and different tactics.”

(ICC)