DRS advocates England put on the ‘Spot’

Seems like England, previously the biggest endorsers of the Decision Review System (DRS), have been forced to have a change of heart.

Seems like England, previously the biggest endorsers of the Decision Review System (DRS), have been forced to have a change of heart.

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They are planning to lodge an official complaint to the International Cricket Council (ICC) after demanding clarification on two decisions that left them on the back foot on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test on Thursday.

While Australians around the world were raising a toast to teenager Ashton Agar, England felt they were undone by TV umpire Marais Erasmus. The South African official gave the debutant, on six, the benefit of doubt on a stumping appeal with replays hinting he may not have regained ground in time. And Jonathan Trott was given out leg-before first ball on review, Erasmus overturning the on-field decision despite Hot Spot not showing the relevant portion of the video to indicate an inside edge.

Warren Brennan, Hot Spot’s inventor, has apologised. “My operator did not trigger the system in order to cater for the Trott delivery. Instead he sat on the Root (previous dismissal of Joe Root) delivery to offer a replay from the previous ball and did not realise until it was too late.”

Former India spinner Maninder Singh felt England had this coming. “They were so keen on criticising India for rejecting DRS. Now they have to go through its faults.”

Former India opener, Anshuman Gaekwad, said: “They will finally realise DRS is not foolproof. A ball pitching on the same spot six times will not have the same bounce and swing, as shown by HawkEye. Similarly, Hot Spot is not always picking every ball accurately. Maybe they should get rid of the system and go back to old-fashioned umpiring.”