The ICC’s Decision Review System (DRS) came into existence in the wake of the Sydney Test match in January 2008 between Australia and India that was a controversial Test match – in more ways than one.
It was the number of incorrect decisions made by umpires Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson that began the debate of the decision to introduce a review system of umpires decisions.
Since the DRS was introduced officially in late 2009, it has worked extremely well in Test matches and since February 2011, is now used in One Day Internationals.
Now India, who was one of the main players in the match that introduced the debate that eventually concluded in the introduction of the DRS, announced that they rejected the use of the DRS in their four match test series in Australia, claiming it was not accurate enough.
The ICC made the use of the DRS mandatory in June 2011, but then backflipped on the decision in October. Now, both boards need to agree on the use of it. Australia agreed on the use of it, but India rejected the use of it.
Because of it, there is no DRS for the series.
But during the first two days of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, Australian batsmen Ed Cowan, who was on debut, was dismissed caught behind for 68. Replays showed he didn’t hit the ball.
Before that, Mike Hussey, who is fighting for his test career, was dismissed caught behind, and replays showed he didn’t edge the ball.
Not only has the ICC’s decision to make the DRS useable if the two partaking cricket boards agree on the use of it looking farcical, it may have cost people careers.
I believe that the ICC has two decisions on the future of the DRS. Make it mandatory or scrap it completely. If they decide to go with one of the two decisions stated before, the ICC will be embarrassed because they are making decisions made 2 years ago redundant.
If they decide to keep the DRS system the way it is, the ICC will be avoided embarrassment, but there will still be anger from fans who have enjoyed the use of it.
zahidali shaikh
Guest
Salam.drs is one of coolist technolegy in these days.i m realy amazed to heared that icc denied to apply in cricket..xoz india denied to apply.i have a question for icc chef..its icc issue or bcc? So plz apply drs as soon as possible thank u
Geddington
Guest
"‘Hotspot’ and ‘Snickometers’ should be removed from all cricket matches – including telecasts. There is no point showing a cricket audience how wrong an umpire’s decision was after every call. We should be shown what the umpires see, nothing more." By that thinking, we should not have any replays, and camera angles only from the height of the umpire at the bowler's end. Perhaps we should just do away with all cricket telecasts and force people to travel with the teams to each of the grounds. What absolutely backwards thinking! Let's remember that it was TV that took cricket from a decline and brought us One Day games at the quality they now are and has led to T20 which is bringing kids back to an interest in cricket. Clearly, the Indian board has been allowed too much power in controlling the world of cricket, just because they have the money.
Matt F
Guest
An ICC report stated that using the DRS has increased the rate of correct decisions from 92% to 97%. Clearly the unpires do a very good job anyway but it still represents a significant improvement.
bugwan
Guest
Couldn't agree more David. Cricket is no better today than it was 20 years ago for the use of DRS. The use of such technology only serves to undermine the umpires decisions. 'Hotspot' and 'Snickometers' should be removed from all cricket matches - including telecasts. There is no point showing a cricket audience how wrong an umpire's decision was after every call. We should be shown what the umpires see, nothing more.
David
Guest
Completely disagree. The DRS issue is more a media creation than anything else. Cricket is above all a game , meant to be enjoyed. We don't need a full fledged justice system out there; just 22 players and 2 umpires. The game is about history and human beings. It is not about testing the latest and the best space age stuff. Technology and the proliferation of officials is strangling cricket. And there never seems to be enough of it. Its a game fer crissakes, not xbox! or the Gulf war.