Umpiring system hurts WI, again

At the end of the second day’s play of the second Test match between the West Indies and Australia, the scoreboard read WI 49 for 3 and the Cricinfo headline blared “Windies flounder against pace and spin.” But spin claimed only one wicket, pace claimed none and poor umpiring claimed two. Once again, we did not succumb to good bowling but to the ridiculous way the DRS (Decision Review System) is implemented.

Kraigg Brathwaite was given out LBW to a marginal decision. If given not out, even a review by the Aussies would not have overturned it since the ball was “barely clipping the leg stump.” I note once again the umpires willingness to be “trigger-happy” against us but much less so when Australia is batting.

Kieron Powell was given out LBW to a ball clearly pitching outside the leg stump which, by itself, means he was not out. Surely, surely, all that should have been required is for the on-field umpire to ask the TV umpire, “Did it pitch outside leg?” And the correct decision (not out) would have been made immediately.

Instead, we have a young, struggling batsman being given out when he was obviously not out. How devastating that must be for his confidence. Next time he goes to bat he not only has to worry about the bowler but whether or not he will get a “howler” from the umpire.

Of course, all this could be avoided if only the DRS were implemented in a sensible manner. Unfortunately, “sensible” is not a word that one can reasonably associate with the ICC. For me, if Australia were to win this match, it would be a hollow, meaningless victory since they’ve already been gifted two wickets, not to mention those of their batsmen who could have been given out but were not.

Noel Kalicharan
Via e-mail