DRS Controversy puts ICC to Test

Recent events show that the Umpire Decision Referral System will continue to be discussed, debated with some pouring scorn on it and yet others praising it.

And it will continue to be so until the International Cricket Council realizes and introduces the full system and not half of the system as they are now doing.Its idosyncratic for the ICC too be wavering on this.

The latest guy to suffer the consequences of criticizing the half system - that is the Hawk Eye - is West Indian coach Otis Gibson. He has been fined 20 per cent of his match fees. Lacking in the system is the Hot Spot and Snicko.

All what Gibson said was: 'If the ICC is going to use the DRS I think they should use all the technology and I think if we haven't got all the technology we shouldn't use it at all.'

Sack or ban him

Gibson has also said that he can't say what he really wants to say about the DRS because the ICC will 'sack me or ban me or whatever". So for saying what he felt about the system, he has been fined.

The ICC seems to be living on another planet removed from earthy reality. Gibson uttered what the majority of players and fans feel.

Writers, TV and Radio Commentators have all criticized the present system. Even when England coach Andy Flower was here for the Sri Lanka- England series, he too mentioned that it is best that the ICC play the full system.

Sri Lanka' opening batsman Tillakeratne Dilshan, was unhappy for being given caught in the slips, when he was convinced he had not got a touch to the ball. He adduced that unless the full system is in play, it does not make sense to play half the system.

We too have always said that it is absurd to play half the system of the DRS and that if they are playing it, use the full complement of avaiable technology. What is absurd is that while some countries play the full system - Hawk Eye, Hot Spot and Snicko, other countries don't because they can't afford it.

Need we tell the International Cricket Council that it is self defeating for the ICC not to find ways to finance the full implementation.

IPL in controversy

The lucrative Indian Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament now in progress in various venues in India has been and will continue to be embroiled in controversy.

Allegations are being made that it is killing the established game - Test cricket - tempting cricketers to turn their back on playing for their country, spoiling techniques of batsmen. There are a host of other allegations.

But whatever is said and done, IPL must be accepted as a necessary evil. Cricket Boards cannot afford to pay their cricketers what the IPL is paying. Cricket today is a livelihood to many players and cricketers cannot be faulted for throwing in their lot with the IPL.

Those controversies apart, another controversy has surfaced --- the reporting of West Indian off-spinner Marlon Samuels who is playing for Pune Warriors in the IPL for a suspect bowling action.

Playing for Windies

Samuels who should have been playing for his country West Indies, was obviously disturbed by the allegation and hit out at his critics saying they can't play his bowling and hence the fuss.

'If I was hit into the galleries, my action would never have been questioned', he said. But Samuels and many others who fall into the league of suspect action may do well to reflect on their actions and style and if warranted take corrective action. It may not be long before many others may justifiably be reported. So, bowlers beware!

Still on the IPL and Sri Lankan stalwarts Mahela Jayawardena,

Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lasith Malinga and Angelo Mathews have sadly failed to make any impression in the tournament which must be worrying to their sponsors.

Tendulkar 39 India's batting prodigy, the one and only Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar turned 39 on Tuesday and the first call that went out to him was from his childhood coach Ramakant Achrekar who wanted him to continue playing for India.

Tendulkar has not been in his usual big run-making act in recent times. That probably is because he was all keyed up looking for his 100th hundred. But now that he has gone over that hurdle with that elusive hundred against Bangladesh in the recent Asia Cup, he has the luxury to bat with less stress and more freedom from now on.

According to coach Achrekar, Tendulkar is the best batsman that the world has seen. He further states that India may find another great, but he does not think India will ever get a player of his calibre and class.

And the coach is convinced that the day Tendulkar retires the loss will be irreplaceable not only for the country, but the world of cricket will miss him.

Always an example

Tendulkar from the time he held a bat has always been an example.

He always keeps himself fit as a fiddle. He has scored 51 Test centuries and 49 one-day hundreds to underline his supreme fitness.

He first sported Indian colours in 1989 and in the span of 23 years he has played 188 Tests and 463 one-dayers. No cricketer has played so many Tests and one-day games. That's another record that he holds that would not be equaled or bettered.

Cricket fans in Sri Lanka saw him at his best when he reeled out a double hundred in a Test played at the SSC. I watched that Test and was simply amazed at his discipline, concentration, technique and the straight bat that he always offered.

For youngsters taking to the game, there is no better example than the little right hander. We wish him more years in the game, bags full of more runs and records. More importantly it will do young cricketers a world of good to benefit from his example of style, technical correctness, coolness and composure that is so important.

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