Australia chief selector wants change in no-ball rule to safeguard umpires

Former Kangaroo keeper says it's only a matter of time before an umpire is seriously hurt

Australia chief selector, Rod Marsh, opined that a change in rules is necessary to safeguard the lives of the cricket umpires as the game has become more brash than ever.

Former Kangaroos wicketkeeper said the current no-ball rule should be changed in order to protect the umpires so that they can stand further back on the bowler’s end.

"It's only a matter of time before an umpire in an international or first-class match is seriously hurt, if not killed," Marsh said, as quoted BBC.

Marsh, 67, was speaking at the annual MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture, and he stated that the fast-paced Twenty20 had given birth to harder hitting which makes the umpires vulnerable to injury.

"You put yourself in the umpire's position when a batsman with a massive weapon runs at the bowler and smashes a straight drive at about chest height," added Marsh.

"I for one would want to be standing back as far as possible and by reverting to the back-foot law (dispensed with in 1963),  the umpire has a chance to stand at least two metres further back.

"If I happened to be umpiring right now I'd be wearing a baseball helmet, a chest pad, shin guards and an abdominal protector.

"Maybe we have to make this safety gear for umpires compulsory for all international and first-class games."

Long-serving umpire Rob Bailey also backed Marsh’s arugument.

"A lot of people are in danger,” said Bailey.

“Bats are massive now and are only going to become more powerful and the ball is pinging off them. Fortunately no-one has been badly hit."