Steve Smith. (Photo Source: Twitter)
Australia’s stand-in skipper Steve Smith was seen indulging in the use of a very clever tactic of the Decision Review System (DRS), during the proceedings of Day 2 of the third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. The star batter and his team got the better of team India through this clever technique twice on day 2. As per the DRS rules, if the appeal is sent for stumping, it gets automatically checked for caught behind, giving the reviewing team an advantage without losing a review.
Talking in the same line of events, former India cricketer Parthiv Patel stated that Smith is aware of this loophole and he exploited it to the best. He also added that this technique gives unfair advantage to the reviewing team and hence rules should be tweaked a bit.
He is aware of that – Parthiv Patel demands change in DRS rule
“Steve Smith is aware of that and he exploited the loophole. The on-field umpire should avoid going to the third umpire if he is sure that it’s not out when there is an appeal for a stumping”, former India cricketer Parthiv Patel said while speaking on Cricbuzz.
The 37-year-old was of the opinion that Steve Smith was very cleverly misusing the resource of the DRS. Also, the third umpire should only be asked for a referral if there is a major confusion regarding caught behind. Also, an important point which he highlighted was that the DRS should be used only to check a single mode of dismissal.
“The ideal solution is that the TV umpire should only review the stumping if the appeal is made only for a stumping. A caught behind should not be checked unless the fielding captain opts for a review.”
On Day 2 when India was batting, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey was time and again removing the bails in an attempt for stumping and skipper Steve Smith would immediately appeal for the same.
What Australia had managed to unearth is that everytime they appealed for a stumping review, it was immediately getting referred by the third-umpire. Going by this logic, if the fielding team was successful in convincing the squar-leg umpire for a stumping appeal, then it would also get checked for a caught-behind in that single appeal as well.
Steve Smith and his team was seen exploiting this tactic to the fullest on Day 2. While some called it “cunningly clever”, many called for a major change in the use of the DRS by the ICC.
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