UDRS: Barking up the wrong tree
The whole cricketing fraternity has united in the last few weeks. However the issue behind their unequivocal stand is mildly amusing to say the least. It is about India’s refusal to accept and use UDRS (Umpire Decision Review System) in any of the series it plays.
Also Read: India Tour Of England 2011 – Complete Schedule
The whole circus started with India’s refusal to implement UDRS in its forthcoming tour of England. After the English finished eulogizing their team with past greats saying that it deserved to be number 1 as it had defeated Australia in Ashes, the modern players started hyping up the tour of India saying that it would serve to show the world their quality. Big words indeed. But all that petered out with comments from Swann about India being supposedly afraid of UDRS as it would enable the English to overturn decisions the umpires got wrong.
Old guy Boycott got off his rocker to claim that the other members should outvote India in the decision regarding UDRS as India did not deserve to bully people.
Common. Now I have had enough of this bull shit. I know that the BCCI loves throwing its weight around the cricket world. It does do stuff to influence decisions because frankly it is the only organization that makes money and contributes to ICC. But cannot anyone else see that it might be the bully in the room but it is surely not the dumb bully. It has brains and makes sound decisions in all matters pertaining to cricket. It is no joke that it has created a money-spinning franchise based on an idea it was against.
India’s persistent refusal to use UDRS does not stem from any fears as Mr. Swann feels. Well if you think that you can get decisions overturned, won’t the Indians also be the aggrieved a few times? History is evidence to the fact that India has never gotten the better deal when it comes to advantages given by bad umpiring. Dhoni’s caustic remarks at the end of last test might be in bad taste but were correct. India has become the force in spite of decisions going against them. India would have defeated a much stronger Australia in their backyard when that Australian team was whipping English asses without breaking sweat. If only umpires like Steve Bucknor and Daryl Harper were removed way before their mistakes started affecting the results of tests in such a big way.
Just yesterday, umpire Ian Gould made a shocking decision by judging that Darren Bravo edged the ball when there was daylight between the ball and the bat. You need UDRS for that? Why not create a pool of umpires more competent enough to make the decisions. ICC said that it was sad that Daryl Harper would not be standing in the third test between India and West Indies as he deserved to have a farewell. Yes, and it should have taken place long ago. They said that his decisions were correct 96% of the time. Statistically great, I must admit but how many of them are decisions such as a checking for a no ball? That counts, right. So an umpire can be fit enough for some of the biggest games while still judging incorrectly whether he bowler overstepped 4 times out of 100 balls delivered!!
India’s grouse is that the technology and the rules should be made fool-proof. It does not want to be at the end of a wrong result just because the people were lazy and did not test the product before implementing it. India was at the wrong end in the World Cup when Ian Bell was given not out even though the ball would have hit the middle of middle stump. Surely Mr. Swann, that affected the match’s result and if my memory serves me right the dreadful umpiring was probably the reason behind the English victory in Bangalore that night. If that’s how you want to win, fine – but don’t cry!
Tags: BCCI, Cricket, England, ICC, India, UDRS, Umpire Decision Review System
