BRETT Lee doesnt mind admitting he hopes the Australian teams appeals help sway umpires decisions but he says theres nothing wrong with the way they do it.
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer provoked a furore this week when he claimed Australia had enjoyed a|29-5 advantage over his team in decisions which technology judged to be incorrect during their recent series.
Woolmer said the Australians were good at appealing and, backed by strong crowd support, it placed subconscious pressure on umpires.
Lee was asked yesterday whether he thought the Australian team or its crowds could sway the umpires.
“Hopefully,” Lee said.
“Hopefully being a bowler you can sway the umpire to give him out.
“I have not seen a problem with the way the Australian cricket team has been appealing and we only appeal when we think it should be out.”
“There has been a lot written about it (incorrect decisions) and sure umpires make mistakes, theyre only human.
“But it is pretty hard for them when he only gets a split second to make a judgment.
“People get to watch it 15 times at home on super slow-mo replay.
“I think we should give them a pat on the back because they have done a pretty good job.”
Lee said umpires integrity could never be questioned but he would like to see two neutral umpires use in one-day internationals, as is the case in Test matches.
“Umpires dont cheat, that is common knowledge,” he said.
“It would be nice to put those rumours to bed and have neutral umpires in a 50 over match.
“There is a lot of criticism of umpires these days.”
With the standard of cricket improving Lee said umpiring ability too had risen and he was largely satisfied with their decisions.
Lee, however, believes umpires should stick to getting decisions correct and not try to copy theatrical New Zealand umpire Billy Bowden.
“Bill is one of those guys you cannot copy,” he said.
“Sometimes when you do look around and youve bowled a wide and you see him stretch his arms out like a pelican it is not the most flattering thing.
“You want to just go up to him and push his arms back down.
“We know that is just part of the way he is and it makes for good viewing for the spectators.
“Providing he gets the decisions right.”