Mike Atherton says sending players off could add more pressure onto umpires
Wednesday 21 March 2018 12:18, UK
The introduction of a new disciplinary system by the ECB could have the unintended consequence of adding more pressure onto umpires, believes Mike Atherton.
The ECB's new rules will allow umpires to remove players from the field of play - either temporarily or for the whole match - for level three and level four offences.
The move follows in the footsteps of the MCC, who introduced the same measures last year, but Atherton has questioned the decision.
He said: "Quite often you bring these things in and they have unintended consequences. You have to think very carefully about changes that you make.
"Would umpires like that extra pressure on them? There's a lot going on for umpires - it's quite intense out there.
"If they then have the capacity to warn a player or send him off, that's adding an extra layer of responsibility."
David Lloyd - a former umpire - was more positive about the expected changes, however, saying: "I would love it.
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"Football and rugby seem to survive. The more significant thing is that the public instantly know there has been a problem."
Both Atherton and Lloyd questioned the current demerit points system used to retrospectively punish players, and suggested sending a player off would be more "straightforward".
While the ECB's new rules will work in addition to the current system, demerit points have come into focus in recent time due to the Kagiso Rabada case.
He was initially handed a two-Test ban as a result of demerit points handed to him for making contact with Steve Smith after he dismissed the Australia captain.
The ban was then overturned on appeal, meaning Rabada is now free to compete in the remaining two Tests of the South Africa vs Australia series - live on Sky Sports.
Lloyd said of Rabada's hearing: "The laughable thing to me is there's a QC, there's lawyers, Skype meetings for six hours. It's a game of cricket!"
