Taufel wants third umpires to practice in 'simulated' matches to avoid Ashes-type howlers

ICC Umpire Performance and Training Manager Simon Taufel has said that he believed that the ICC's coaches for umpires need to develop a training module that allows third umpires to learn from their mistakes in simulated match environments instead of on the job.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the controversial Hot Spot technology in the Decision Review System (DRS) almost took out the third umpire during the Ashes series in England after some questionable decisions infuriated both teams.

However, Taufel called the third-umpire's apprenticeship as 'gruelling', saying that they need to very careful about the selection and the way they promote officials within their system, for which he is working to develop a training module that will allow umpires to be successful but make mistakes away from a game rather than an on-the-job training.

According to Taufel, as a result of the characteristics needed by a match official, the selection of domestic umpires as international officials no longer relied on how they performed 'within the rope' but how they also handled themselves beyond the boundary.

Taufel further said that they have to be sure that they are promoting officials who can deal with the challenges, pressures, travel, scrutiny, the way they use technology, dealings with the media and how they sell themselves, adding that it also necessary for umpires to have the people skills and the ability to handle any extra demands.

Stating that a normal umpire do not actually experience third-umpire work until they hit national panel level, Taufel, who stood in 74 Tests and was the ICC's umpire of the year from 2004-08, said that there has to be an apprenticeship for the third umpire like the on-field match official.

Taufel further said that it also necessary to tap into the technology providers to better understand what Hot Spot can do and why it sometimes does not show things up so that they can better prepare their match officials to handle those situations.