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Shut the mic, not the speaker
August 2, 2007
While CMJ is critical of the role England's coach team director Peter Moores played, by not immediately condemning the incident and issuing a public apology to Zaheer Khan, Moores himself trots out the time-honored argument that has been advanced by many players previously caught saying things they shouldn't have: turn off the mikes.
Speaking in the aftermath of the fractious seven-wicket defeat by the tourists, Moores said: "There must be some things that are left on the field to be fair to the players. They should be allowed to go out there and play the game without being worried that everything they actually say is going to be broadcast. It's something we've discussed as a management team and we've spoken to the match referee about it." Ummm - turn off the cameras too while we are about it, because it was the cameras that caught the jellybeans, not the mikes? On related lines: Stump microphones have been in use in international matches since 1999, but Moores' suggestion that they be turned down overlooks the fact they are not actually on very much in the first place. Under a policy adopted by the International Cricket Council's executive board eight years ago, the microphones are switched on only when a batsman is taking guard at the start of his innings, between the start of a bowler's run-up and the moment the ball reaches or passes the batsman, and between a fielder's return throw and the moment the ball reaches a team-mate or hits the stumps.
Another interesting bit from the same piece: Last night an experienced television insider with regular access to the live audio feed at international matches said: "I've been listening to stump microphones for years now and I've never heard anyone go on like [the England wicketkeeper] Matt Prior. He keeps on saying, 'Come on England, give me some Npower energy'. We're convinced he's got some kind of sponsorship deal."
Image: Peter Moores during a practice session at the ECB National Cricket Academy on July 26, 2007.
Also see: The Unbelievable Upset!
India in the United Kingdom 2007
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