Cricket: 3rd Test

[Guest rob]

Seriously.... Explain to me again why the DRS is being used??

[jat]

Yes, sportsmanship is dead. How can any keeper appeal for something so vigorously when there was no noise and day light between bat and ball. I am so hoping that Karma will strike.

[Danston]

On behalf of the cricketing public and the Aussie bowlers, welcome the Australian batsmen to the test series, seriously though ive seen or heard very little coverage, sounds like its an absolute road of a track? Draw likely with some rain forecast Sunday and Monday?

[Ken Gargett]

Yes, sportsmanship is dead. How can any keeper appeal for something so vigorously when there was no noise and day light between bat and ball. I am so hoping that Karma will strike.

i don't have any problem with prior and the others appealing. it did turn a fair bit. and the on field ump did see it that way (so even with no drs, usman was gone). but i have a massive problem with the drs decision. i don't believe it was an honest one - there is so much match fixing these days that i have lost faith. how easy for one of the indian bookies/gamblers to slip a big bung on the win by england or even the smaller event of the first drs appeal being upheld - you can bet on pretty much anything.

but if it was not dishonest, how on earth can a supposedly competent umpire make that decision? and how on earth can he be appointed to that position?

when i saw that, i simply gave up watching. lost interest.

[Danston]

i don't have any problem with prior and the others appealing. it did turn a fair bit. and the on field ump did see it that way (so even with no drs, usman was gone). but i have a massive problem with the drs decision. i don't believe it was an honest one - there is so much match fixing these days that i have lost faith. how easy for one of the indian bookies/gamblers to slip a big bung on the win by england or even the smaller event of the first drs appeal being upheld - you can bet on pretty much anything.

but if it was not dishonest, how on earth can a supposedly competent umpire make that decision? and how on earth can he be appointed to that position?

when i saw that, i simply gave up watching. lost interest.

Good point Ken, just looking at it from a slightly different angle. There was someone commenting on the radio today cant remember who it is, but they looked at it as the umpires closing ranks, with the extreme scrutiny they are under nowadays they felt the 3rd umpires are trying to save face fore the on field guys, ridiculous decision i know but may go someway to explain the crap 3rd umpiring so far

[Ken Gargett]

it is a thought but if they really have gone down that track, they must know they are finished. it is hard to see a professional, who supposedly makes his living from this (assuming he isn't copping backhanded bungs), deliberately supporting a wrong decision. it would mean putting his job in jeopardy. you have to think the bloke would be lucky to umpire at zimbabwe v bangladesh after this - tho if friends in high indian places, who knows.

and umps have egos like everyone else. they want to be seen as good.

for me, either the most incompetent moron on the planet, tho possibly exceeded by those who appointed him, or corrupt. and sadly, i think that is more likely.

[Danston]

Either way its a damn shame, I have been a fan of DRS, but this series has shown its limitations, if the system or the 3rd umpire can't be relied upon to overturn a howler they may aswell scrap it! I'm certainly not convinced by hotspot, and it seems to me the on field umpires are scared to trust their own instincts now