Pakistani Cricketers need UDRS training after Trent Bridge Test blunders
Into the second day of the Test against England at Trent Bridge, and the young Pakistan team was uncertain of how to use the Umpire Decision Review System. Pakistan managed to use both their lifelines in the first innings and did not perform too well. But their lowest point was when Azhar Ali did not refer after being involved in a caught –behind decision, that might have gone in his favour. This was a result altering decision and it is thought that Azhar should have made use of the UDRS.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 were at 41 for 3 in the 21st over when the incident took place. James Anderson’s ball went straight to the keeper, and both joined the appeal for a catch. Azhar seemed to walk towards Umar Akmal, he was indecisive as to whether he should make an appeal for the UDRS. But only seconds later he turned and walked back to the dressing room.
The replays clearly show that the ball had merely flicked Azhar’s pocket on its way to Matt Prior, and that there had indeed not been any contact with the bat. The ‘Hot Spot’ also proved that there was no bat involved and if http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Marais-Erasmus-c74368, the third umpire, had been asked to review the decision, it is highly likely that he would not have supported the on-field decision.
Pakistan Captain, Salman Butt stood by his batsman, saying he did the right thing by walking instead of questioning the reliability of the already controversial technology. Butt said that Azhar believed that he had managed to touch the bat to the ball, which is why he did not feel the need to refer.
“I think it was very honest of Azhar Ali, good sportsmanship. He edged it and he walked straight away. If we had taken the chance, who knows, it might have been not out because it didn't show anything and it also showed it clipped the trousers on the way. But he knew he was out, so there's no point taking the referral. If you are found out on the big screen, it doesn't look nice”, Butt told reporters.
Butt also mentioned a similar incident which occurred during Pakistan’s tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 was lucky enough to survive a caught behind appeal, after which he went on to score a century. The Snickometer had picked up a noise when the ball flicked the sticker on the side of the bat, but since the Hot Spot replay was inconclusive, the decision was not given.
“Hawkeye is not 100 percent and neither is Hotspot. When the ball hits the sticker on the side [of the bat] it doesn't leave a mark. It happened with one or two decisions before. But the point is, if the batsman knows he has hit the ball there's no point taking a chance, because if it's up there on the big screen it's pretty embarrassing”, Butt said.
This incident, compared with the others, including Kamran Akmal’s tactless decision to refer a catch which had missed the bat by an obvious distance, resulted in a disappointing day for Pakistan. If Pakistan wishes not to miss out on such opportunities in future Test matches, they need to train the players on how to use the system effectively. If used to their advantage, the UDRS could come in very handy.
England also faced problems with the UDRS at the start of their Caribbean tour last http://www.senore.com/Cricket/March-c74391, but they have adapted very well, and since then have managed to use it effectively. England bowler, James Anderson said, “It's something to get used to. We've not used it very well in the past and been on the wrong end of some tough decisions from it, but we've used it pretty well so far in this game. As it's used more and more in this game, the more we'll get used to it, and the better we'll use it”.
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