In just a few weeks, one of my favourite clashes kick off in Pretoria. South Afica vs India. There’s been a lot of noise made about the fact that no URDS will be used for the series and I simply can’t understand why.
I’ve never really been a fan of the UDRS. I think it’s a bit silly. It intervenes with one of the cornerstones of a good Test match: poor umpiring decisions. Good because it gives cricket fans something to talk about. It gives us something to remember Test matches by. Especially the boring ones. It gives us something to moan about when the pitches aren’t flat.
More interestingly, though, India don’t seem to know how to use the UDRS.
India have played a series in which the UDRS was used only once – in Sri Lanka in 2008. They struggled with their referrals on that tour, getting only one review right, while Sri Lanka successfully challenged 11 decisions.
This is most excellent news since this means we won’t have to waste time waiting for India to review something that isn’t out and India won’t have to be embarrassed about just how bad they are at accepting when they’re out.
Of course, the ICC also get to save some money since we here in SA can’t afford the hot spot camera (remember when Paddle wanted to start a campaign to buy us one?).
More money for the ICC = a better jet for Haroon Lorgat = Lorgat in a better mood = more bile spewed about Test match championships and nothing done about fixing what is inherently wrong with the sport.
This is just like politics, really.
I think you call it capitalism.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
i agree with ian chappell’s views on this…if you are so insistent on using UDRS, might as well, allow the umpires to use it instead of the players…i’m all for use of technology in sport, but not if it comes in the way of the natural charm the sport holds…its so annoying sometimes, when the ebb and flow of the game is disrupted when a team decides to review a decision..case in point, the siddle hat-trick was a spontaneous moment of great cricket, which was held up by broad’s review…might as well remove the on field umpires then…
Exactly my point, mate. Especially since India don’t seem to get it at all.