Umpire changes sadden Bird

Malik begins the walk back to the pavilion

Former umpire Dickie Bird believes a "chap from the village green" could now stand in international matches because of the increased use of technology for making decisions.

Yorkshireman Bird made his comments after Pakistan's Shoaib Malik became the first cricketer to be given out lbw following scrutiny of a TV replay.

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Under experimental regulations in force for the Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka, match officials out in the middle can refer any decision, including lbws and bat-pad catches, to the third umpire.

Malik was given out after umpire Daryl Harper asked colleague Rudi Koertzen to adjudicate with the help of replay footage.

Bird is now a best-selling author of cricket books

If the experiment is deemed a success, it may persuade the International Cricket Council to introduce the system for all Test and one-day international cricket.

"I suppose you need to go with the times, but I feel very sad that all the authority has been taken away from umpires," said Bird.

"What is there left for the umpire in the middle?

"It used to be a great honour to umpire, a great thrill when you had to make all the decisions in the middle, and I feel very sad about it."

Bird stood in 66 Test matches, the last in 1996, and 93 one-day internationals, including three World Cup finals.