Mark Taylor has left no listener in doubt that he would prefer a batsman to be dismissed by a no-ball rather than have an umpire cross-check whether a delivery was legal or not. Indeed, Taylor seems altogether underwhelmed by the introduction of the Umpire Decision Review System (DRS).
Fortunately, he seems to be in a minority amongst cricket pundits, certainly those commentating on the Ashes series and the New Zealand/Pakistan Tests.
As umpires and players came to terms with the DRS, there are fewer questionable decisions, no frivolous appealing, fewer referrals and, most importantly, no residual angst that a player or his team has been dudded.
The Ashes’ umpiring was excellent throughout with Aleem Dar exceptional in his judgements.
Cricket lovers cannot expect any umpire to be perfect, and in the First Test, Aleem’s decision to give Hussey out lbw was overturned on referral and clearly influenced his decision a few balls later to incorrectly spare the same batsman. I don’t recall any other incorrect decision in the series.
Not only were the umpires seldom incorrect from that point, but the captains, in particular Strauss, chastened by the Brisbane experience, were careful to keep referrals in their pockets.
Critics of the DRS should indicate whether they believe the Ashes series would have been enhanced by Alistair Cook scoring half the number of runs because he was caught off a no-ball off his shirt.
These same critics might also wish to justify not having DRS applying in the current New Zealand/Pakistan series. In the last two days, opener Mohammed Hafeez was given out, caught behind, having missed the ball by inches and on the mildest of wicketkeeper appeals unsupported by his slip cordon.
Similarly, cameras showed that Younus Khan did not hit the ball caught at short leg but again on an apologetic appeal, umpire Tucker raised his finger.
Of course these ill-used batters might have been dismissed the next ball, but it is more likely that Pakistan’s first inning’s lead of 20 could have been 150. Would those that deny the use of the DRS prefer matches to swing on bad umpiring decisions?
The use of DRS has demonstrated the merits of good umpires such as Dar and Erasmus, whilst preventing their rare misjudgement to mar the game.
Whereas in New Zealand the result of the series might depend upon the uncorrected bad decisions of an inexperienced umpire, Tucker, and those of Darryl Harper, who should retire from duty behind the stumps, at square leg and even from the third umpire’s box, where over 87 Tests he has demonstrated consistent incompetence.
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