ICC sticks with DRS for rest of the Ashes

ICC general manager Geoff Allardice met members from both teams and ICC umpires to discuss the performance of the DRS.

LONDON: England team director Andy Flower admitted on Thursday that the Decision Review System (DRS) "hasn't worked well at all" in the ongoing Ashes series but wasn't in favour of abandoning it as yet.

As expected, both England and Australia reiterated their support for DRS, making the ICC decide in favour of retaining the controversial technology for the remaining two Test matches in the Ashes series.

ICC general manager Geoff Allardice met members from both teams and ICC umpires in Durham on Wednesday to discuss the performance of the DRS.

Calling the meetings "very constructive", Allardice said both the teams as well as the umpires supported the better use of technology in the game, supporting the continued use of the Hot Spot technology in the final two Tests of the series that will be played at Chester-le-Street from Friday and at The Oval from 21 August.

"We acknowledge that the DRS has not performed as effectively during the past three Tests as it has in other series. The purpose of my visit was to meet with the teams to listen to their feedback, and to identify potential improvements to DRS moving forward." Allardice said in a statement.

He also stressed that Hot Spot was just one tool at the disposal of the third umpire. "We know that the majority of edges are detected by Hot Spot but there are occasions when a fine edge isn't picked up.

If there is no mark on Hot Spot, the TV umpire can use replays from different angles to see whether the ball has deflected off the bat, and he can listen to the sound from the stump-microphone to determine whether the batsman has edged the ball. "Either deflection or sound can be used by the TV umpire to make his final judgment."

He added, "It was very encouraging to hear both teams reiterate their support for the use of DRS. Some of the ideas that were suggested during the meetings could improve the system, and will be considered further by the ICC."

The ICC strongly reiterated its commitment to involve technology in cricket and improve the performance of the DRS. The statement said, "Technology is evolving.

During the Old Trafford Test, we conducted a trial where a TV umpire accessed replays using a multi-channel monitor system with its own operator and recording device. The aim was to get more replay angles to the umpire, faster, so he will be able to make more accurate decisions and minimise delays to the game.

The feedback from this trial has been very positive, and we now need to consider how this technology could be most effectively used as part of the DRS system". ICC added that their area of focus is the training of TV umpires.

Many controversial decision by TV umpires with the use of DRS has marred the Ashes series, making many believe that the technology is flawed
.