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Don't blame the D.R.S. for Broad fiasco

Aleem Dar was the most experienced of the ICC's international umpires. How he checks his texts, waiting for another callup(AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Roar Guru
13th July, 2013
9

It is one of those classic Ashes moments that polarises opinion ad infinitum and one that may well have sealed a first Test win for England.

When Stuart Broad seemingly belted the cover off an Ashton Agar ball, that then deflected off Brad Haddin’s gloves and into the awaiting hands of a jubilant Michael Clarke late on day three, the unthinkable happened.

With Australia all out of reviews, Aleem Dar ruled it not out.

Within an instant, social media whipped into a frenzy. Commentators referred to their Decision Review System (D.R.S.) commentary handbook rule 1-A which clearly states that in the event of any controversial decision, we must trot out the word “howler” ad nauseam. The D.R.S. again came under heavy fire from many angles.

But in reality, it’s not the D.R.S that is the problem. In its current form, if used properly, the system could work okay. There are three factors that contributed to what ended up being a disappointing passage of cricket:

Aleem Dar’s howler
It appears that even the most staunch, one eyed, English supporters were adamant that Broad hit the ball.

I’m yet to hear anyone suggest otherwise. Dar’s decision was simply a bad one. The biggest “howler” since Michael J Fox ordered a keg of beer on Teen Wolf back in 1985.

It was the catalyst to the ensuing farce.

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Australia’s use of the D.R.S.
The Aussies elected to review two lbw decisions that to the armchair expert, didn’t look out at first glance, let alone on further inspection.

They were more a gamble than a bid to right an obvious wrong.

It would not at all surprise if Broad’s decision to stand there innocently was partly based on a gamble of his own; knowing that a wrong decision would stand.

Stuart Broad not walking
It seems pretty obvious that Stuart Broad’s chances of winning the Adam Gilchrist spirit of cricket award aren’t looking too hot, in fact he may be more chance of winning an Academy Award.

Broad stood there like he’d gone nowhere near the ball; a player with less nous may have been half way off the field.

There was and will continue to be hue and cry over his decision not to walk, but these days many don’t. It is a disappointing part of the game for me but nonetheless still a part of the game. Broad sold it with a poker face that Daniel Negreanu would be proud of.

In the end, it’s these factors that made the Day 3 debacle happen. If you remove any one of them, the right decision would be reached.

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While the D.R.S. may need some eventual fine tuning, it was in no way to blame for this poignant moment at Trent Bridge.

Follow Rob Sheeley on Twitter – @robshots

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