Lucky Slater calls for candid camera to help umpires

The Australian opener played one of his greatest innings -- hitting 123 off 189 balls with 11 fours and three sixes -- as the home side sought victory in the deciding Test.

At the close of the third day, England were 104 for two, still requiring 183 runs for victory.

But England were angry over the life given to Slater on 35 when he was startled by Dean Headley's throw from long on which scored a direct hit at the bowler's end.

Repeated television replays on the giant video screen made it seem Slater was short of his crease, but he was given the benefit of the doubt by the third umpire Simon Taufel in the stands.

``I think the umpire from the camera angles he had he made the best decision he could from what he saw and fortunately I knew it was close. All direct hits are close, but I got the benefit of the doubt because of the camera angles,'' said Slater.

Slater said he believed it was time for more cameras to be used to stop similar controversies. ``Definitely, if you are going to have the third umpire then get the cameras in place so it's conclusive,'' he said.

``If there's a camera on the other side of the ground square-on there's no doubt you would know one way or the other.

``The (third) umpire can only make a judgment on what he saw at the time, he took his time, it was a good three or four minutes and he came up with the decision he thought was the right one.''