Shocking BBL umpiring error ignites more calls for DRS to be introduced

The Big Bash League’s lack of DRS – and the resulting poor umpiring calls – could see it overtaken by other tournaments around the world.

The million dollar cost is the reason given for not using the decision review system in the Big Bash but calls are growing louder after a howler in Canberra on Tuesday night.

Perth captain Mitch Marsh would be “all for” the DRS being used after the Scorchers were robbed of a wicket in their seven-wicket loss to the Sydney Thunder.

Umpire Simon Lightbody was heard telling Perth bowler AJ Tye he believed Thunder batsman Usman Khawaja’s bat hit the ground after a strong, and what appeared clear-cut caught behind appeal.

But Tye protested the bat was nowhere near the turf, which was backed up by every single replay that showed Lightbody was way off the mark.

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Usman Khawaja was given a life after a shocking umpiring call. Picture: Getty Images

Khawaja was on 18 at the time, and made just three more before being dismissed.

But Marsh, who was also the victim of a growing number of bad umpiring decisions this BBL season, would be keen for DRS to come in.

“As a player you like to see stuff introduced, I would be all for it,” Marsh said.

“It’s probably above my pay grade to really be commenting on that. But I’d certainly be all for it if it was introduced.

“It’s probably a case of (needing) to go all in, or not (at all).”

The Big Bash League has never used DRS and this year was unable to afford the reported $1.5 million needed to spend on the state-of-the-art technology for the nine-week tournament.

With the COVID-19 pandemic draining cricket’s finances, it was even less of a chance to come in this year.

The BBL’s maiden season in 2011-12 allowed third umpires to overrule incorrect decisions off replays, without using added technology.

Andrew Tye pleaded with the umpire, to no avail. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Melbourne Stars captain Glenn Maxwell joined in the debate after Tuesday’s howler, backing a return to that style of system.

“We get that umpiring isn’t easy!!” he posted on Twitter.

“But surely with a stump mic, a bunch of different camera angles, and a basic understanding of cricket, the right decision could’ve been made without any of the fancy DRS bells and whistles?

“It was introduced to eliminate the howler.”

Tye was fuming when the decision was given not out, and was left more upset when the umpire explained he thought Khawaja’s bat hit the ground.

“How did the bat hit the ground? It was that far off the ground!,” Tye said.

Tye’s Perth teammate, Kiwi international Colin Munro, said he heard the edge from near the boundary where he was fielding.

“I’ve got to really have my ears open at home to hear the Mrs talk to me, but I actually heard that from the boundary at backward square-leg,” Munro said on Fox Cricket.

We get that umpiring isn’t easy!! But surely with a stump mic, a bunch of different camera angles, and a basic understanding of cricket, the right decision could’ve been made without any of the fancy DRS bells and whistles? It was introduced to eliminate the howler... 👇🤷🏻‍♂️ https://t.co/vILutllXhv

— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) December 22, 2020

Last weekend Thunder captain Callum Ferguson said the BBL would fall behind rival T20 tournaments if the DRS was not introduced.

“We certainly like to think we’re in the top couple of T20 tournaments around the world,” Ferguson told the ABC.

“But on the basis of not having little things like DRS in the place, I feel like we’re falling behind certainly the IPL.

“If we’re trying to be as good as we possibly can be, we’ve got to have little things like DRS in.”

Originally published as Shocking BBL umpiring error ignites more calls for DRS to be introduced