Why BBL helpless to stop ‘howler’

CRICKET is holding its breath that DRS will be available for every Ashes Test this summer after it was ruled out as a pivotal tool for the Big Bash.

Players and fans were up in arms about a number of ‘howlers’ in last year’s BBL and were vocal in their push for Cricket Australia to fork out for the multimillion-dollar technology and bring it up to speed with other leagues around the world.

Cricket Australia had listened to the feedback and were intending to do so, but COVID-forces conspired against them and BBL bosses informed players the upcoming season would be played without the safety net of a decision review system.

Transporting the DRS technology – and the few skilled experts capable of operating it – around the country each season comes with an estimated bill worth north of $5 million.

With doubts over State border crossings, it was an expense that couldn’t be justified for this summer, with Cricket Australia adamant conditions should be the same at all matches.

BBL boss Alistair Dobson wants to eradicate the howler, but frustrated fans and players are being asked to wait.

“We’ve spent an enormous amount of time since last season looking at the options and understanding the technology and understanding the logistics that would be required to bring DRS or some form of technology based review into the BBL,” Dobson said.

“The complexity of the BBL in a normal year is pretty significant (in itself) but the international borders and I guess the lack of certainty around domestic borders and even scheduling at this point meant that the confidence or the ability to reliably implement a technology based DRS across all the games is just not possible this season.

“It remains our intent to bring something in in the future for the WBBL and BBL.”

Issues with transporting the precious DRS cargo and its operators across State borders could also be an issue for the Ashes Test summer.