DRS nothing sans snicko

Ranmore Martinesz

The Decision Review System (DRS) is a technology meant to correct any confusion regarding an on-field umpire's ruling. And with the introduction of the DRS the fourth umpire sitting in front of all the monitors is increasingly becoming a very important cog to ensure a fair judgment on a cricket field.

But Paul Reiffel, a former Australian bowler, was hardly feeling comfortable with his role as the fourth umpire on the second day of the first Bangladesh-Pakistan Test at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium here yesterday.

The unavailability of snicko-meter, an important devise in DRS, was like Reiffel was asked to fire a shot without loading a bullet. Take for instance the review asked by Pakistan opener Mohammad Hafeez, who was given out by on-field Sri Lankan umpire Ranmore Martinesz caught behind off left-arm spinner Taijul Islam. Hafeez, who was on 15 then, was not convinced that he edged an attempted cut.

It took Reiffel about four minutes to skate around different camera angles and in all those angles it was inconclusive that there was any deviation as the ball went past his bat. So, he gave the batsman the benefit of doubt and Martinesz's decision was overruled. A few overs later, Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim gloved one catch down the leg-side and appealed for a caught behind decision off the same bowler. This time the batsman was Sami Aslam, the young left-handed opener making his Test debut. The umpire was again Martinesz and his decision was not out. Bangladesh asked for a review and it was again a tough task for Reiffel to confirm whether the ball had brushed the batsman's gloves. Again there was no conclusive evidence of any deviation. But Reiffel's final judgment was that the ball had brushed the gloves. So, Martinesz again changed his original decision.

Interestingly, on both occasions, the help of snicko-meter was what Reiffel needed to make a precise judgment. It could not be confirmed whether both decisions were correct, but there was a tinge of disappointment Bangladesh may feel regarding the first decision because it was the umpire's call. And correct me if I'm not mistaken that an on-field umpire trusts his ears more than what he is seeing to make a decision about an edge. And Martinesz was consistent about his two decisions, the first one off a bat that he was supposed to hear and the second one off the gloves he was not supposed to hear.

But whatever the decisions have been, DRS without the snicko is a curate's egg.