OTD | For the first time ever, review system was introduced in Tests in 2008

With the technological advancements which are happening all around the world, now the sport has also started implementing these technicalities in the way in which it is being played. These adoptions of the technology have certainly reduced or one can say the technology have eliminated the risk of the wrong decision to a great extent. 

Some of the popular technological advancements which have been adopted in the game are Hawk Eye, hotspot, Ball tracking, etc. One more approach to minimize some of the bizarre umpiring decisions is Decision Review System (DRS). It is a digital technology-based process used by either side in a cricket match to assist either the umpires or referees in their decisions.

In the history of the game, there have been various occasions where some of the umpiring decisions have caused a lot of drama and have even affected the outcome of the match. Hence, considering all these instances, in 2008, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, James Sutherland told the Australian, “There have been some advances in technology that cricket can continue to explore”. Sutherland’s comments came during the course of a controversial Test match between Australia and India in Sydney. 

By March, ICC approved the trial of the review system during a Test series in the calendar year. The England and South Africa boards failed to reach an agreement to implement the new system in the 2008 Basil D’Oliveira Trophy. But Sri Lanka and India agreed. 

The Umpire Decision Review System (popular as DRS) made its debut on this day in 2008 at SSC, Colombo. Anil Kumble, the captain of India, was the first to take advantage of it after the umpire denied Harbhajan Singh’s lbw appeal against left-handed opener Malinda Warnapura. The decision made on the field was correct, according to the replays. 

The first player to carry on batting after being declared out by the on-field umpire was Tillakaratne Dilshan, who accomplished this feat the same day. The ruling was reversed in favour of the batsman after being sent up for review. Later, the Snick-o-meter, which was not utilized at the time of the review, confirmed that Dilshan was actually outpaced and left behind.

The three-match Test series witnessed only one successful review from India and 11 from Sri Lanka. The review of the Review System deemed it a promising concept but with a big scope for improvement.