Here We Go Again: DRS Is Back In The News For All The Wrong Reasons

Even cricket video games have a better DRS than this

By: Arun Rawal |
March 9, 2019 5:04 pm

Since the introduction of Decision Review System (DRS), questions have been raised over its effectiveness. On multiple occasions we have seen people complain about hawk-eye, ultra-edge, and the infamous, umpire’s call rule. We witnessed another example of DRS malfunction in India vs Australia 3rd ODI clash in Ranchi yesterday.

It was Aaron Finch who reviewed the umpire’s decision of leg before wicket in the 32nd over of first innings. Not only actual position at which the ball was pitched was dragged incorrect but the trajectory (spin) was changed as well.

In an early pre-DRS world, the replay should have shown that the ball pitched in line of the middle stump, and turning towards leg side, clipping the leg stump or missing it by a fraction. But the actual review showed ball pitched slightly different from the position it pitched, and going straight.

What on earth has just happened with the Finch LBW? Ball tracker has the ball pitching somewhere completely different, and that sort of affects the trajectory doesn’t it. Might still be out, but bizarre. #INDvAUS #Finch pic.twitter.com/fDyZR1X0p0

— Raunak Kapoor (@RaunakRK) March 8, 2019

Few cricketers were baffled by the differences between reality and DRS vision as they expressed their disbelief on Twitter:

Ummm DRS. I’ve got no doubt Finchy’s LBW was out but I can’t see how on the earth that ball was hitting middle stump. Looked at best leg stump.

— Mark Waugh (@juniorwaugh349) March 8, 2019

Just saw the replay of @AaronFinch5 dismissal ! What the hell was the DRS doing ! The ball pitched in a completely different spot, and agree – probably clipping leg not smashing into middle stump ! Mmmmm https://t.co/7Dnw0R03QJ

— Shane Warne (@ShaneWarne) March 8, 2019

Finch LBW. Are we just gonna ignore the fact that ball tracking had it pitching in a totally different place to reality?

I saw it pitching middle, maybe even middle and off. Ball tracking had it pitching on leg.

Still out but pretty weird. #INDvsAUS

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) March 8, 2019

It is quite tough to say whether Finch became a victim of DRS failure as he could have been given out on the basis of umpire’s call. But Australia could have at least retained their review if Finch was given out on the basis of umpire’s call. If things like these happen in big tournaments like upcoming World Cup 2019, one bad review can change the course of the game.

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