Stewart calls for experienced umpires on turning pitches

With the dust finally settling on the controversial First Test Match in Galle, England have started preparations for the second match in Kandy, where they hope that the two new umpires, Sri Lanka's B.C. Cooray and South Africa's Rudi Koertzen, prove stronger in mind than their Galle counterparts.

Alec Stewart admitted that his disgraceful lbw decision in the first innings that ended his 80 runs partnership with Marcus Trescothick and precipitated England's third day capitulation, was the "worst I have ever received."

"You know, it never entered my head that I could be given out," he said yesterday after practice. "Generally if you get one that is not quite right you'd be a bit disappointed but you know you win some and lose some. But that one was the worst decision I have ever received in any form of cricket and perhaps that is why I was able to walk off in amazement without showing any emotion."

Nevertheless, Stewart, not known for his timidity behind the stumps, has no gripe with the Sri Lankan appealing: "I do not have a problem with someone like Jayasuriya appealing for something like that if he thinks he can get a decision and I don't have a problem with the keeper going up every other ball.

"The umpire is there to decide whether it is out or not out. Batsmen who don't walk, or people that appeal all the time, or fielders who get on the pitch and rough it up with their spikes is all part of the game to some extent. I'll be honest, if I think an umpire will give someone out I'll appeal. That may not be how the game should be played but that is how it is played."

Stewart, however, believes that the game now needs strong umpires, especially in series where spin bowling predominates: "With hindsight, the ICC should have looked at that first Test and said, 'we need an experienced umpire.' It is important that in games when there are plenty of fielders round the bat, and the ball is turning, that you do not have umpires who may succumb to the pressure and that only comes from experience."

"Maybe in the future they should insist that one official has done say 20 matches even if the other umpire is relatively inexperienced. With TV scrutiny now the job gets ever harder for them and it needs strong officials on and off the field to stop things if they go too far and make sure the game progresses as it should."

Graham Thorpe meanwhile has called for neutral umpires to be introduced in all Test Matches as soon as possible: "I have always believed in the use of neutral umpires because it takes out the 'what if' feeling you get as a batsman when you are given out by a home umpire. It's a fact that neutral umpires make as many mistakes as home umpires. Unfortunately for the home umpire, when he makes a mistake the feeling of bias can creep in."