The Decision Review System
has been one of the most sought after innovations since 2008, which has yearned
to eliminate a big part of human error- umpire error through increasing the
role played by machines and technology. Constantly being under scrutiny and evaluation,
the system has been used in the three major ICC tournaments since 2011. Whether
to the joy, or even disgrace, of several fans, it is an undeniable fact that
cricket is dominated financially, logistically and politically by "The Big
Three" boards- ECB, CA and BCCI.
It has been no secret that BCCI has vociferously opposed the "questionable" system and has not adopted in any of its bilateral series since the disastrous 3 test tour against Sri Lanka where DRS was exposed, at a time when the other 9 cricket boards, to the major part, have welcomed the idea. The BCCI are obviously great financial benefactors to the ICC and contribute a lot to the development of the game in general, in terms of advertising to other countries or even giving them a platform to get involved. The BCCI and the Indian team are also associated with a mass fan following willing to popularize any idea that the board adopts or the fans find worthy.
It has been no secret that BCCI has vociferously opposed the "questionable" system and has not adopted in any of its bilateral series since the disastrous 3 test tour against Sri Lanka where DRS was exposed, at a time when the other 9 cricket boards, to the major part, have welcomed the idea. The BCCI are obviously great financial benefactors to the ICC and contribute a lot to the development of the game in general, in terms of advertising to other countries or even giving them a platform to get involved. The BCCI and the Indian team are also associated with a mass fan following willing to popularize any idea that the board adopts or the fans find worthy.
The prayers have been answered
At a time when the
effectiveness and longevity of DRS was coming into question, the BCCI has resuscitated the
concept by investing its faith for a long home series with England, in which
they play 5 tests, giving the DRS a big platform and enough time to convince
the players and fans alike. The system has also gone through some glaring changes,
something that would've played a role in the change of BCCI's mind, that has
added balance to the batsman friendly game in favour of the bowlers.
The zone in which more than half the ball must hit the pad for not-out decisions to be overturned has been increased along with the zone in which the ball-tracking projection needed to show more than half the ball hitting the stumps. Therefore, more than half the ball still needs to hit the pad in line with the stumps, but measured from the outside of off stump to the outside of leg stump, and more than half the ball still needs to hit the stumps, but not as centrally as before.
The zone in which more than half the ball must hit the pad for not-out decisions to be overturned has been increased along with the zone in which the ball-tracking projection needed to show more than half the ball hitting the stumps. Therefore, more than half the ball still needs to hit the pad in line with the stumps, but measured from the outside of off stump to the outside of leg stump, and more than half the ball still needs to hit the stumps, but not as centrally as before.
Not NOT OUT anymore- Due to an increase in dimension, such decisions would benefit the bowling team, unlike previously
The DRS is certainly the way ahead in the future following a
change in the mindset of both players and spectators. The rigors of the game
mean that small margins of error can have a huge impact in deciding the fate of
a match, and the need for umpires to be spot on is increasing. There remains to
“charm” of human error anymore. There have been also formerly been talks of
adding detectors of front foot and side no balls, to add more accuracy and
precision to the game.
For a game that is played by humans, and made more interesting by errors and imperfections just like every other sport, this may not be the best way forward, but certainly has many advantages associated with it. Reducing the workload of the on field umpires, whilst still adding more scope for scrutiny, DRS’s future prospects have been bolstered with the support of the biggest and most influential cricket board. The BCCI have given the go ahead, ensuring exciting things are coming ahead. Now, it’s the turn of the Decision Review System to repay the faith.
For a game that is played by humans, and made more interesting by errors and imperfections just like every other sport, this may not be the best way forward, but certainly has many advantages associated with it. Reducing the workload of the on field umpires, whilst still adding more scope for scrutiny, DRS’s future prospects have been bolstered with the support of the biggest and most influential cricket board. The BCCI have given the go ahead, ensuring exciting things are coming ahead. Now, it’s the turn of the Decision Review System to repay the faith.
