No looking back at DRS now
The 5 day test match between the ICC and the BCCI kicked off on Sunday and the hot topic for discussion was of course the need of Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS). The outcome seems to be a moral victory for both ICC and BCCI but now it’s high time to move forward and not look back at the UDRS.
Also Read: India Tour Of England 2011 – Complete Schedule
Now all matches will employ the new DRS scheme where hot spot will become a mandatory and the absence of ball tracking technology will definitely be felt. So, if a batsman feels he has not nicked the ball but is given out then he cannot go for a review as the new DRS will only check for hot spot unless and otherwise, the onfield call of the umpire stands good. With most of the decisions going for the LBW in the previously completed world cup, one might want to argue the fact that hawk-eye must be made mandatory but still BCCI’s rejection still has some technical meaning and ICC respected it. For a TV viewer we might spot out easily after the hawk-eye that it could have hit the stumps or not but that is not the case when it comes to the umpires. There is no looking back after they have made the decision. Even in special cases like when the hawk-eye just kisses the bails, the commentators and people agree it is fair to go against the bowler but not so according the DRS that has been used so far. It is certainly an unlucky case for the batsman and that little advantage for the opposition could switch tides thereby changing the fortunes of the game. But certainly this DRS will be of incredible help in case of umpiring blunders (which happens terribly for nicks and edges), caught behind, and other regulation catches. Though it might not contribute a majority for the decisions that have been so far, it still is very reliable and avoids errors to the maximum possible extent.
The other major decision was the FTP draft which regulates the number of matches between nations. Major countries namely England, India and Australia will play 99, 90, 92 test matches respectively. India’s next tours of England in 2014 and 2018 will be a 5 match series. But huge disappointment for Bangladesh and Zimbabwe as they will not tour India until 2020. There will be back to back Ashes in 2013 due to concerns with 2015 world cup. Pakistan is set to tour India in March-April 2013 but still stands on the balance and will be decided based on the political situation between the two countries.
Tags: BCCI, Cricket, FTP, Future Tours Programme, ICC, UDRS, Umpire Decision Review System
