Too many cooks spoil the referral decisions

AUSTRALIA has ratified a new referral policy following their Ashes horror show, and on Thursday hit the jackpot at first attempt.

When Nathan Lyon should have had the wicket of Ben Stokes to slam the door shut on England’s stunning win at Headingley in the third Test, Australia were left to rue the fact they had earlier wasted a DRS review.

But they had no avenue to appeal and the rest is history.

It was one of nine referrals the Aussies had botched of the 11 times they went upstairs in the series.

However, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood revealed a new system has been enacted, after a clean decision was made to successfully appeal a not out call to have Shaheen Afridi given out caught behind by the third umpire off the bowling of Mitchell Starc.

Hazlewood said the fresh strategy is based on limiting the number of voices weighing in with an opinion.

“I think it’s just about keeping it very simple,” said Hazlewood.

“We are trying to get the bowler and keeper obviously.

“Then height is a big issue here in Brisbane with the lbw’s, so we’re trying to get someone from point in.

“If someone hears something out of the blue, they can run in and yell out if it’s very clear, but it’s really just trying to restrict it to those three people.

“We just have a quick chat and keep it quite simple.

“[We ask] ‘why didn’t the umpire give it out?’

“At least then we have a process and can judge ourselves if we’re getting better or worse. [Either] change the process or keep it going the same if we’re going well.

“It worked well today. We got one caught behind so we’ll tick that one off.”