‘Ball kaha h aur tracking kidhar ho rhi’ – Fans divided over umpires using No-ball tracking in Bangalore vs Delhi game in WTL 2023

A never-before-seen sight occurred during the first innings of the Women’s T20 League 2023 match between Bangalore and Delhi at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium. The third umpire used the ball tracking system to determine a no-ball in an extraordinary turn of events.

Typically, this technology is used in the Decision Review System for Leg Before the Wicket (LBW) calls (DRS). However, the third umpire used it to call a no-ball this time. Delhi requested a review after the leg umpire failed to signal a no-ball on a full toss from Megan Schutt to Jemimah Rodrigues.

The ball tracking system was employed in order to reach a fair conclusion after watching the replays; it showed that the batter was bending and the ball was about to smash onto the stumps, showing that it was not a no-ball.

This was made possible by a key rule change that allowed players to challenge wide and no-ball calls under the tournament playing rules. According to section 3.1.1 of the WPL playing regulations, “A player may also be allowed to review any decision taken by on-field umpires concerning wide or no ball.”

The new rule was implemented in the tournament opener between Mumbai and Gujarat on March 4, when Mumbai skipper Harmanpreet Kaur challenged an umpire’s decision to award a wide despite batter Monica Patel edging a delivery from Saika Ishaque.

In the meantime, the same rule will be applicable in the upcoming edition of the Indian T20 League. These reviews, for wides and no-balls, will be included in each team’s two unsuccessful reviews per inning. However, DRS cannot be used to review leg-bye decisions.

When speaking to ESPNcricinfo last year, former Elite Panel umpire Simon Taufel stated his objections to wides and height no-balls being reviewed in T20 cricket. “I’m really conscious around trying to turn the art of officiating into a science and seek perfection, whatever that looks like, with decision making,” Taufel had said.

“So with wides for example, and here we’re going to, potentially according to you, or according to the player or the debate, take a wide call and throw that back to the third umpire for them to judge on something that might be marginal and is still a judgement call,” he said.

Here is how Twitter reacted to the no-ball decision