A Futuristic Dawn of Decision Review System In IPL 11

What does this term DRS stand for?

In accordance with the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS or DRS) is a technology-based system. In cricket, this system assists the match officials with their decision-making. On-field umpires may choose to consult with the third umpire (known as an Umpire Review). And the players may request that the third umpire consider a decision of the on-field umpires (known as a Player Review). In short, it is an additional option for both on-field umpires and players to be well aware of the decision whether it is taken correctly or not.

The main elements that have been used are many. Like television replays, a technology that tracks the path of the ball and predicts what it would have done. Apart from these, there were many more. Such as microphones to detect small sounds made as the ball hits bat or pad. And also infra-red imaging to detect temperature changes as the ball hits bat or pad.

The on-field Test match umpires have been able to refer some decisions to a third umpire since November 1992. And the formal DRS system to add Player Reviews was first found in a Test match in 2008. It got its first usage in an ODI in January 2011, and in a Twenty20 International in October 2017.

How this sudden DRS madness arises?

The quality of umpiring in the Indian Premier League has been pathetic as well as lambasting. In order to put it mildly, the officiating has been very abysmal. Perhaps, to err is human, but experiencing the howlers of homegrown umpires, the adage will not wash away.

Hence in order to play fair, there is always a need for the advent of DRS in IPL. With such advent the pressure from Umpires not only be loaded down but also the dismissals of players would be justified.

The past instances where DRS was required

In the match between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad on Saturday, umpire Anil Dandekar neither heard a massive edge by Robin Uthappa nor the vociferous appeal by keeper Naman Ojha.

If the umpire, perhaps, thought that bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar did go up in appeal, it was silly, as the edge was so clear that there was no need for any screaming from the bowler’s end. Ideally, the batsman should have walked.

Umpire Dandekar figured again when he checked with the third umpire whether Uthappa’s catch by Ojha was clean after giving the soft decision as out. The third umpire checks the decision in its entirety and decides that there was no bat involved! The strange rule when the query is only for the catch, but then that’s how the rules are.

If the umpires give out leg-before even if the ball is hitting the top of the stump the batsman is out, but if a bowler reviews the same decision when the umpires say not out then the umpire’s decision stays.

Unlike, Mumbai mentor Mahela Jayawardene, Sunrisers’ VVS Laxman was philosophical: “You can’t do anything about umpiring decisions,” he said. Uthappa went on to make 68. Uthappa himself was candid when Brett Lee asked how much luck played a part in his knock. “A lot” he replied, adding, ”That’s how the rub of the green goes”.

Mumbai’s coach Mahela Jayawardene was also furious seeing Butler given out when the ball was missing the leg stump and Rohit leg-before when he had clearly edged it. He said, ”It happens. It is not in our control. I don’t think anyone makes those mistakes. But (I) wish for a change that the opposition can take our wickets”.

What’s not so funny is that Rohit Sharma was reprimanded for his gestures in disappointment. In the same game, Mumbai’s Keiron Pollard escaped a plumb leg-before and when Mahendra Singh Dhoni gestured a DRS sign, the former India captain also got a reprimand from the match referee.

The ray of hope for Decision Review System seekers in IPL