Testing times ahead for DRS

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 “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 was intending to do so, but Covid forces have conspired against it and BBL bosses told players on Sunday the upcoming season would again 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 $5m.

With doubts over state border crossings, it was an deemed an expense that could not 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 from the game, 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 told News Corp.

“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 a stress for the Ashes Test summer.

Administrators would have to rely on the West Australian government to allow the specially trained broadcast staff in should the fifth Test be played in Perth.

There was uproar about the women’s internationals between Australia and India not having access to DRS, but Cricket Australia’s plans to have the technology for the series were destroyed by the late change in schedule to the Gold Coast.

It illustrates the uncertainty around Covid cricket but also how much fans are demanding DRS in the era of mass video replays and review systems in place in virtually all sports.

Perth Scorchers captain Mitchell Marsh was on the receiving end of a couple of shocking blunders by umpires last summer and leading players and commentators, such as Shane Warne, have also called on the BBL to bring itself up to other Twenty20 leagues and introduce technology.