Tufnell: Review helping Swann
Phil Tufnell claims cricket's new decision review system might have yielded him 'another 1,000 wickets' - but still has mixed feelings on its use.
Players can now challenge the decisions of on-field umpires in Test matches by calling for a review by technology of any dismissal including, most contentiously, lbws.
Many observers feel this has benefitted spin bowlers as umpires, with the safety net of Hawkeye to fall back on, are feeling confident enough to give more front-foot leg-before decisions.
"In the old days batsmen used to put their front foot down the wicket and you'd never get an lbw," said Tufnell, the former England left-arm spinner turned TV personality.
"I must admit you do sit there and think, 'Crikey, I'd have another 1,000 wickets if I was still bowling!'
"But there you go - times move on and the game has changed. You take what you get."
The review system, since being refined this winter after a poorly-received trial a year ago, is generally thought to have worked well.
There is a feeling more correct decisions are being made even though, for some, the whole concept of challenging umpires' decisions goes against the spirit of the game.
But Tufnell is unsure whether the current rule, whereby teams are allowed a maximum of two unsuccessful referrals, is fair.
The 43-year-old said: "It has been good to try it. There have been decisions wrong and they have referred them.
"But it puts a lot of pressure on the captain and I think it could be better.
"You have to wonder which decisions to refer. You have to ask is it going to hit or isn't it.
"I also can't see many referrals happening for batsmen nine, 10 or 11 - but they can be as big mistakes as for one, two or three.
"I think they need to try to get it across the board. It needs tweaking somehow.
"But the main thing is they get the right decisions. There could be people's careers at stake."
One spinner to have prospered under the new system is England's Graeme Swann.
The Northampton-born Nottinghamshire player is England's top bowler in the current series against South Africa with 19 wickets after the first three Tests and now seems well established in the side.
"He has done very well," said Tufnell. "He's had a fabulous past year with bat and ball.
"He backs himself, plays with a smile on his face. I like the way he plays. He is a bit of a character and he enjoys it.
"He has come in and performed brilliantly. The spot was there and he was determined to go in there."
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