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The Decision Review System (DRS) continues to divide and confuse, with Australia twice refused reviews on day four of the Boxing Day Test.
A bizarre technology failure foiled one of Steve Smith’s reviews in the final session, while the umpires ruled Smith took too long to refer a call in the morning session.
Neither moment robbed Australia of a wicket nor momentum.
But the afternoon Eagle Eye error was an embarrassment for the sport.
Smith reviewed an lbw shout from Peter Siddle, which came when Jason Holder was on 29.
“We’re just building it,” third umpire Ian Gould said, as both sides waited for a ball-tracker replay.
There was a long delay but it never came.
Fielders shuffled back into position as umpires Chris Gaffney and Marais Erasmus explained to Smith why the review would be null and void.
It is almost certain the verdict would have remained not-out, meaning Australia benefited from the bungle.
But the situation would have teetered towards a debacle if Holder had been plumb.
“There’s been no damage done,” Mark Taylor said on the Nine Network.
“They get the review back, all in all justice has been done.”
Smith wasn’t quite as understanding when Australia were denied a review in the shadows of lunch.
DRS rules state that a captain or batsman must lodge a review within 15 seconds of a verdict.
However, that timeframe is rarely enforced.
James Pattinson had a confident lbw shout turned down by Erasmus when Rajendra Chandrika was on 14.
Pattinson almost sprinted down the pitch, urging Smith to review.
The skipper decided to do so but Gaffney and Erasmus felt he had taken too long.
They actually did Australia a favour – the decision would have remained not out.
However, that footage wasn’t played on the scoreboard.
Pattinson directed his anger at Chandrika, who copped a gobful.
The umpires had a quiet word with the Victorian, who cooled down during the meal break then trapped Chandrika lbw for 37.
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