Dangerously risky system?
Technology has seeped into every aspect of life and the general consensus is, its boons are greater in number than its banes. There is little doubt that technological advancements, like third-umpire replays for run-outs/stumpings, have drastically reduced errors in those two modes of dismissal.However, umpires’ Decision Review System (DRS) involves many more types of dismissals, which in turn increases the probability of erroneous decisions.
With the ongoing Ashes series between England and Australia already getting marred by the increasing number of umpiring howlers, the International Cricket Council (ICC) must set a standard protocol to be followed by every team to remove the ambiguities surrounding DRS.The DRS fiasco started in the first Test at Trent Bridge when Australia skipper Michael Clarke had to go for 23 after Stuart Broad launched an appeal for caught behind. On-field umpire Aleem Dar gave Clarke out after checking with the TV umpire even though the Hot Spot review wasn’t clear enough to endorse Dar’s decision.From there on, both teams had to face the wrath of poor umpiring decisions which reached its peak in the third Test at Old Trafford when Australia’s Usman Khawaja was given out by Tony Hill for nicking the ball to Matt Prior off Graeme Swann. Khawaja immediately made the T sign for review but third umpire Kumar Dharmasena ruled him out, despite the images and Hot Spot showing no evidence of the batsman edging the ball.The shocking decision prompted commentator Shane Warne to remark: ‘There was daylight between bat and ball, there was no Hot Spot and no noise. The only noise was when the bat hit his pad.
That’s an absolute shocking decision.’ Mediapersons were more concerned with the impact it could have on Khawaja’s career, given his uncertain place in the side. Most agreed the actual technology was not at fault, but rather the man reading it.BCCI’s constant resistance to DRS has drawn flak from almost every cricketing board as well as the ICC. However, with the Ashes already getting marred with controversy, it is now apparent that India’s DRS reservations need to be looked at more seriously.According to Sydney Morning Herald, although India’s influence over Asian cricket playing nations has been the stumbling block for the mandatory adoption of DRS, its natural distrust for ball-tracking and Hot Spot has been proved right. It won’t be surprising if other countries too join BCCI’s stiff resistance to the referral system.
Australia’s Channel Nine television even claimed Hot Spot was failing to detect edges because of batsmen applying silicone tape, a practice permitted by the laws of cricket. The report specifically referred to Pietersen’s dismissal in the third Test, a claim which was vehemently denied by the prolific England batsman.Umpiring is a tricky business and to make it error-free, ICC needs to introduce proper protocols and urge all cricket-playing nations to stick to them. If a system is deemd fit to use in matches involving certain teams, it should be applicable in every game so that both squads enjoy its benefit and bear the brunt of the wrong decisions.
