Will the ‘DRS’ lose it’s fan base?

It wasn’t long ago that Indian board was criticized for not using the ‘technology’ provided by ICC during the matches. The end result was in all the matches that the team played, there was no use of DRS (Decision Review System). Let alone the BCCI, but now the likes of West Indies great Joel Garner, former umpire Dickie Bird have come down heavily on DRS. Who could forget that moment during the ICC 2011 World Cup semifinal when spinner Saeed Ajmal had Sachin Tendulkar adjudged LBW only for DRS to rule that not out. The DRS may not have won over the Asian nations but the likes of Australia, South Africa and England have always given a green signal to it.

As the DRS’ popularity amongst these nations was going sky high, the 2013 Ashes series has put a different picture forward. Some controversial decisions against the teams (England and Australia) questioned the usage of technology in the game.

English batsman Kevin Pietersen on a radio show said, “Hot Spot had an absolute stinker this summer for whatever reason but no-one was taping their bats with any artificial strapping or silicone.” Pietersen is one of many players who have called for a change in DRS. Trott who was wrongly given LBW out by the TV umpire during England’s victory in the first Test at Trent Bridge in the replay, an inside edge said, “Maybe more benefit of doubt should go to the batsman. More benefit of doubt is going to the umpire with regards to defending an umpire’s decision.”

Since other games like tennis and football are gaining more leverage on the technology’s side, we saw the English Premier League introduce the famous ‘goal line’ technology in the 2013/14 season. The ICC heads might have chopped and churned the DRS system (The decision review system used in Tests will be changed to allow an extra two referrals per team in this winter’s Ashes series) the main issue remains to be- if it still be effective?

Picture courtesy: ICC Facebook page