For months now the BCCI has refused to see what was obvious and apparent to most cricket lovers and commentators - the crying need to accept the UDRS system. I am what is a needless species as far as the BCCI is concerned - a cricket fan. A humble cricket fan and I may not know as much as some of the exalted people who run the game in India, but I can challenge them on one simple aspect. I sincerely believe I have watched and continue to watch more cricket than any of them. For I have a sneaking suspicion that most administrators, players and even commentators here do not watch cricket other than what India plays in. I have the dubious distinction of travelling to different parts of the world to watch cricket and more importantly watch every cricket match that is happening in the world of cricket and many of them which happen outside this country use the UDRS, and in my opinion the UDRS works . It would have worked yesterday for VVS Laxman who would have got a richly deserved century. It would have worked for Ishant Sharma when he got a raw deal and most certainly for Ricky Ponting when Ojha was plumb in front of the stumps in what would have settled the match. It will save us from the vagaries of Billy Bowden’s crooked finger and Steve Davis’ short sightedness!Well done Steve
The fifth day of the first test between India and New Zealand was arguably Steve Davis worst day. In one memorable five ball over he did not see that VVS had a huge insight edge and Zaheer had another that was only slightly less intense. He promptly gave both of them out lbw of successive balls. He must have been so happy with his own umpiring that he called the over in just five balls. But Steve Davis I hope has given a rude jolt to the slumbering BCCI officials. I do hope that some of the BCCI officials were watching. I wish Virender Sehwag would just saunter to one of them and say “I told you so”. Clearly there is divided opinion about the UDRS and its efficacy within the Indian team and “God“ is against it. God maybe the greatest batsman that ever trod the post war cricket ground, but he has got it completely wrong this time around.
All the talk about technology not being adequate is pure hogwash. Technology will never be perfect but it would have certainly avoided the blunders of yesterday. Let’s go with what Ravi Shastri said about UDRS. It prevents blunders like what we saw yesterday at Ahmedabad. Let’s not let the same blunders happen in South Africa when we travel there for what is ostensibly the world championship of cricket. Picture this - Wayne Parnell pitches the ball six inches outside the leg stump there is a huge shout and Sachin is adjudged lbw! Hashim Amla smashes one to Dhoni and despite fervent appeals by the entire Indian team is given not out!. VVS Laxman again inside edges to be given out lbw! Who knows Steve Davis and Billy Bowden could well be the umpires we might have for that series while Aleem Dar is officiating in the Ashes and Simon Taufel is officiating in some state game in Australia. India has always been lazy in understanding new concepts - it was the most vocal critic of the T20 and now it’s most ardent follower. Let’s hope that the same thing happens with UDRS.
Ramanujam Sridhar
CEO
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