WINDIES IN ZIMBABWE, 2017

Streak, Law question cap on reviews after Bulawayo draw

by Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on

Stuart Law questioned the idea of installing such expensive technology if DRS only has to be used twice in an innings. © Getty

After the drawn Test between Zimbabwe and Windies at Bulawayo, there are a few question marks surrounding the DRS yet again, or more precisely, the usage of it. Arguably, the match could have panned out a lot differently, if only both teams had reviews up their sleeves when they actually needed them.

Zimbabwe, who were on top at one stage on Day 3, should have had Jason Holder early in his innings. Windies captain was trapped plumb in front off Sikandar Raza, only for the umpire to turn down the appeal. Unfortunately for the hosts, they didn't have a review handy as they were guilty of being too wasteful earlier in the piece. Holder went on to turn the tables dramatically with a record eighth-wicket partnership with Shane Dowrich.

West Indies didn't prove to be any smarter than their counterparts either. Their push for a win on the final day was scuppered due to the inability to use the DRS against Graeme Cremer, who could have been sent packing more than a couple of times. Eventually, the visitors had to settle for a draw.

Head coaches of both teams weren't too impressed with the DRS handicap, and questioned the cap on the number of unsuccessful reviews allowed.

"It costs a lot of money to set up the cameras and have the technology available to us, and to only be able to use it for two incorrect appeals, I think is ludicrous considering that you had $400,000 worth of machinery around and you can't use it," Stuart Law, Windies coach, said on Thursday (November 2). "To me that doesn't quite make sense. But we've got to be smarter and understand that we do only have two reviews. I've found it a little inconsistent these two Tests. On the Snicko there have been a lot of waves or spikes, some days there were plenty, some days there were none when someone is smashing the inside edge onto their pad. It doesn't provide an exact result, but it gives you an idea I suppose. We've just got to use it better.

"From my understanding, the technology has been incorporated to stop the absolute howler. Umpires are human and they make mistakes, we all do. But it's there to stop the howler and if there are decisions where you feel you've been hard done by and you're not able to use it, I think it's something that must be looked at."

Zimbabwe coach Heath Streak echoed Law's sentiments. "I just think that, you pay a lot of money to have those systems in place," Streak said. "I think that people watching on the telly can see that incorrect decisions were made. So I think it's something that will have to be discussed going forward as to how we can best utilize what is effectively a very expensive system to have more correct decisions out there, so that at the end of the day the result is a reflection of the game and what's really happened, rather than one or two guys getting away with a decision because the other team has lost reviews."

Streak also had a suggestion on the number of reviews which should be allowed. "On DRS, if you're going to spend that much money I think 4 or 5 DRSs, if they're necessary to get the correct decision [should be available]. I don't see any reason why they should limit it to only two."

While Zimbabwe player Graeme Cremer regretted the situation too, he was prepared to be a bit more introspective about the whole deal. "The Test match could have been a lot different if Holder had got out [with that review], if it was out. We could have knocked off the tail a lot quicker, and got a long way ahead in the game. Then we definitely would have bowled again and it would have been an exciting finish to the Test match. It's one of those things. It can happen. I think both teams used the review system quite poorly actually," Cremer said.

© Cricbuzz

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