24 Dec 2008

Both sides highlight flaws in appeal system

11:15 am on 24 December 2008

Both the West Indies and New Zealand cricketers have their concerns about the effectiveness of the new appeal system trialled during their drawn test series which ended yesterday in Napier.

The "referral" system, which allows sides to challenge umpiring decisions, played a significant part in the outcome of the second test yesterday when Brendon McCullum was given out after challenging a curious decision, effecting ending New Zealand's run chase for victory.

Needing 312 runs to win the test and the series, New Zealand were 92 runs short when the match was called off nine overs early.

The New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said McCullum clearly didn't hit the ball, which would have been evident if the third umpire had been allowed to access the "snicko" technology, and the West Indies coach John Dyson agreed with Vettori about making all the technology available.

The West Indies captain Chris Gayle was named man of the match for his series-saving second innings of 197.