Former Sri Lankan cricketer, Kumar Sangakkara took twitter to express his dissatisfaction over the Decision Review System (DRS) that is being currently used in the game.
His comments came after England batsman John Bairstow survived a mightily close call on the opening day of the third test between England and Sri Lanka. The DRS has held the umpire’s original decision to declare Bairstow not out after an LBW appeal.
The ball was just millimeters outside the line where it made the impact but went on to hit the stumps when the batsman was on 56. The ball-tracking technology (Hawk-Eye) showed the umpire’s call standing as the ball missed the 50 percent mark by a millimeter, as a result of which Bairstow survived.
The decision left the Sri Lankan team stunned and Bairstow went on to make 167 runs as England finished their first innings at 416 from a difficult position of 182-6.
The current DRS rule says that 50 percent of the ball should hit the stumps to be given out. But, Kumar Sangakkara suggests that the rule needs to be changed.
High time the ICC got rid of this umpires call. If the ball is hitting the stumps it should be out on review regardless of umps decision.
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) June 9, 2016
The Umpires call makes a good review useless. It should be out or not out on review. Otherwise it becomes a bit of a farce
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) June 9, 2016
With The Umpire's call technology is used as an excuse for the umpire making a mistake. Technology should ensure the correct decision's made
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) June 9, 2016
The result of a review should not be ambiguous. We can't say it's hitting the stumps but we give the benefit of the doubt to the umpire
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) June 9, 2016
If the umpire wants a comfort zone give him a margin of 20%. If anything more of the ball is hitting it his decision can be overturned.
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) June 9, 2016
The current rule could be up for discussion in the upcoming ICC meeting and a change from 50% to 25% could very well be made but it can only come to effect by the end of September.