Ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy starting on Boxing Day, it has been aggravating to see the continued negativity shown by India’s administrators toward the umpiring Decision Review System.
It was confirmed on Wednesday that India has sought to have the DRS taken out of the series, as they have done in series since its inception, despite the fact that the side’s last visit in 2007-08 contained contentious umpiring issues that could have been greatly tempered in magnitude by video, audio and infra-red replays available from Channel Nine’s cameras.
“This means wrong decisions will stand, and could raise tensions on the field,” wrote Jon Pierik in The Age.
“It was poor umpiring that sparked trouble on India’s visit four years ago and almost led to the tour being abandoned.”
I’d be the first to admit that the DRS is flawed. Of course it is – humans are involved. Humans, even the ones programming the various replay devices and inputting the picture and sound feeds, etc, are imperfect. We are never likely to get a 100 percent accuracy rating with either the human or electronic eyes and ears involved.
However, I’d also be the first to say that I’d rather have the decision-challenge option available than not. Like commentators Ian Chappell and Tony Grieg in particular have previously stated, the aim of the umpires should be to interpret the laws of the sport correctly, for the sake of first the players, then the paying public, and then their own reputations as officials.
And the use of technological aids shouldn’t be feared by the umpires themselves, players or cricket boards. It exists primarily to offer the most comprehensive set of evidence to produce as many correct decisions as possible.
According to Pierik, the Indians remain unconvinced of the accuracy of DRS technology. Nine’s cricket producer Brad McNamara admitted that there was “definitely” a variance in DRS aid technology around the world, but that Australia “put a lot of time, effort and money into making it as accurate as possible” here.
“We are fairly certain we are using the best technology available,” said McNamara.
“It is a bit confusing. The thing I worry about probably more than anything is the viewers. It’s hard to explain to them why DRS is in one series but not in the next in the one summer in Australia.”
However, as long as the ICC allows respective boards to decide whether they’ll agree to decision reviews, the tit-for-tat on technology will continue, probably to the detriment of a spectacle that needs to be based on credible information.
There’s also the thorny issue of whether two challenges per team per innings is the right amount. It’s better than nothing, and if a team continues to guess correctly, they stay in the game with both intact. Sounds reasonably fair to me.
This won’t be the first time India has said no. It declined the use of DRS earlier this year in England, then changed its mind and allowed it – but not in relation to leg-before decisions. You surely can’t have it both ways. Either you think the technology provided by the home nation broadcaster is good enough or it isn’t. And if it is good enough, it should be good enough to cover all possible decisions.
In reality, though, this could come back to bite the Indians on the proverbial gluteus maximus. Do Mahendra Dhoni and his men want to walk off the field at the end of every day’s play this season, as confident as they can be that the correct decisions have been made, regardless of what position the match may be in?
Or do they want to imply that Nine’s cameras – let alone the flesh-and-blood umpires themselves or Australian captain Michael Clarke – cannot be trusted to make the right calls in the interests of the game? Do they want decisions reviewed systematically, or a totally different DRS to come into play – the Doubt-Riddled Series?
“If India get a couple of rough ones through the summer, they might all of a sudden become a fan of the DRS.”
Those were McNamara’s words, not mine.
Abe
Guest
India rules cricket. The money 95% is from india, hence we decide the game. If you want to play along fine otherwise we are happy to host ipls and buy everything around. Ta
Brett McKay
Expert
I believe that's known as 'Checkmate'...
Bayman
Guest
Brett, I'll be there in the same spot as last year - or so I am told.
Bayman
Guest
Damn, I forgot you had my email adress.........
WoobliesFan
Guest
Just desserts hey. FIFA is another antiquated organisation that has a fear of the 3rd umpire.....hmm, then again, given that the decision to adopt this technology is in the hands of a person who believes racsim in football should be sorted out on the pitch, well, it makes sense.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Legside, Do you really think its impossible to get at the guy looking at the pictures ?
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Matt, Speaking on behalf of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, we'd like to use DRS, but cant afford the technology (*). Will the ICC - or someone else - pay for it ? (*) Mahmadullah's central contract is $25 000 a year. He earns about the same in the Dhaka Premier League, the local one day comp, but that isnt through BCB. We had to cut pay and reduce the number of matches in the first-class comp this year.
legside
Guest
Match fixing would be a lost art if technology and replays were brought in !
Matt Kennedy
Roar Rookie
Of course India do not want the DRS - there strength is and always has been their batsmen. As we've seen with Ricky Ponting, the DRS gives batsmen out LBW a lot more than they used to be. If India had DRS in play, they'd be a lot more LBW's and a lot less big scores from their top six. How many appeals over the years have been turned down against Tendulkar....'Going down leg'. He ain't about to start giving those ones back to the bowlers.... Ponting's favourite shot to get going in his innings used to be the flick through mid wicket with balls hitting middle and off. He used to play it so well cause even if he missed it, umpires used to be loathe to give LB's with even a hint of the ball going towards leg stump - But the DRS has shown what bowlers always knew and batsmen always refused to believe - there is a leg stump! It's a farce that one team can continue to refuse the use of the DRS, like a school bully. Either everyone uses it, or no one uses it. The ICC should make a definitive call. Of course we all know the ICC is really the BCCI - but that's another story for later....
Stu
Guest
Imagine the betting scene in India if umpiring decisions can be overturned. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
sheek
Guest
Love it.....! Actually, reminds of tiny Sri Lankan batsman Duleep Mendis back at the inaugural world cup of 1975. After being hit once too often by Thommo & Lillee thunderbolts he declared, "I'm going now", & promptly retired himself hurt. Afterwards, the manager was indignant the Aussie pacemen had bowlers bouncers at their batsmen. "After all", he deadpanned, "all our batsmen are unrecognised". This was Sri Lanka's first foray in an international tournament.....
sheek
Guest
Yeah, second that - Coke.....!!!
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
No, its not. Its just because Sachin and Sunil dont like it.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Spending that money on A-tours and development of cricket outside India, England, South Africa and Australia would be a much better thing than moving the argument from "did the umpire get it right" to "did the technology get it right".' Let the umpire make the decision, and get on with the game.
Johnno
Guest
I hope this is not a sign of match fixing behind these descions by high up people in all areas of commercial interest in India not to use the DRS. I hope there is no match fixing scandals.
Vas Venkatramani
Guest
I wonder how much the Indians would have loved the DRS during the last Test they played in Sydney. For a team that vociferously screamed at the bias of umpires to then reject technology that would correct most decisions is baffling.
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi Doug - slightly on the harsh side, some might say, but undeniable humour in there, too... Phone a friend, eh?
Doug
Guest
Maybe India would get onboard with the drs if it meant the umpire would have to phone a call centre somewhere on the sub-continent. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
boes
Roar Pro
Tendulkar given out lbw approaching his 100th international ton. Replays show an edge on to the pads. I am sure that one would be let to pass quietly.
Brett McKay
Expert
correct on both counts, sadly...