When India got the DRS right and Australia didn’t
Hosts get a hang of the system, allowing Pujara and Saha to consolidate the team’s position; visitors flounder
RANCHI: It has taken India a while to get a hang of the Decision Review System but it has come in the nick of time. The same however can’t be said about Australia who are more experienced at using this system.
Both teams had two reviews each going into the fourth day of the Ranchi Test. India used theirs to allow Cheteshwar Pujara and Wriddhiman Saha continue consolidating the start provided by the openers while Australia looked desperate in reviewing two decisions that didn’t warrant a closer look.
SIGNIFICANT
In the context of the match, India’s reviews were of huge significance. Had Saha not reviewed the leg-before decision, his partnership with Pujara could have been snapped in the second over of the day itself. Pat Cummins thought that he had had Wriddhiman Saha plumb and so did the umpire but Saha reviewed it to find that the ball was going down leg. Saha was on 19 then.
Six overs after India had crossed 400, Pujara was given leg-before to Nathan Lyon but he reviewed it to find the ball missing leg, leaving both Australia captain Steve Smith and Lyon frustrated.
By the time lunch was nearing, Australia were clearly at their wits’ end after Matthew Wade had dropped Saha on 51. Eager to get the breakthrough, Wade almost persuaded Smith to take a review with just one ball left for lunch. Saha had gone for a sweep but the noise came from his bat hitting the ground.
DESPERATION
Australia’s next review reeked of desperation though. Cummins had clearly hit Saha on his chest after he had dropped his hands out of the line of the delivery. Smith though wasted the review. Since reviews aren’t topped after 160 overs, Australia didn’t even leave themselves a chance by wasting both opportunities.