MELBOURNE: Cricket’s decision review system and the continuing struggles of Australia’s brittle batting order bore the brunt of frustrations Down Under yesterday after the tourists’ heart-breaking 14-run defeat in the first Ashes Test.
The DRS, roundly criticised throughout the seesawing clash over five days, ultimately decided the match in Nottingham on Sunday when the technology picked up a nick from wicketkeeper Brad Haddin that umpire Aleem Dar had failed to detect.
“What a tragedy that this brilliant first Test ended with the umpire decision review system making the final decision,” prominent Australian cricket writer Malcolm Conn wrote in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph newspaper.
“Dar gave (Broad’s) most obvious of edges not out and Australia had used both its reviews so the decision stood. This is wrong. The DRS was originally introduced to get rid of the howler but in this match all matter of margin calls were judged by technology while the howler stayed.”
England skipper Alastair Cook said the use of the review was a skill in itself. Opposing skipper Michael Clarke had failed to master it, cricket pundit Robert Craddock said. “We in Australia have acted more on impulse. Michael Clarke is a very emotional man... I think Australia needs far more calculation than what they have at the moment,” Craddock said. REUTERS
