Cricket: Communication key to DRS success

Brendon McCullum of New Zealand. Photo / Getty Images

When asked after the Dunedin test win over Sri Lanka this week whether there should be more communication between DRS operators and the third umpire, Brendon McCullum played it safe.

"I probably don't know enough about it, to be honest. I don't know how the mechanics of it works and even the implementation of it at times as well.

"I think I'll leave that one to the people who come up with the system and also the implementation of it," the New Zealand skipper said.

Fair enough. He's many things in cricket, but McCullum would doubtless agree being a technology whiz isn't one of them.

It would be no bad thing if cricket's administrators also paid due credit to those who work with the various systems which make up the DRS.

The first session at Seddon Park yesterday contained two referrals by New Zealand for lbw. Both were unsuccessful, and rightly so, and New Zealand were without another opportunity until the first 80 overs had concluded.

Contrast that with the first session of the final day at University Oval, when there were five referrals to handle. Call it cricket's morning rush hour, or two.

It has been a depressing week for those who administer and run the system which covers ball tracking, Hot Spot and Snicko.

Imagine you know a batsman to be out but cannot get that information through to the person who has to make a judgment.

Now add in that that official, the third umpire, isn't privy to all available information, so makes his decision without all the facts.

In the most significant incident, it turned out right in the end.

Tom Latham hit the ball which was referred by Sri Lanka when he was on 97. He won a reprieve, even though the crucial piece of film which proved it conclusively was not able to be seen by the third official.

This is a communication world, and that's an element which can easily be improved in the DRS world, too.

So when people who know their oats on these matters explain how much a system could be enhanced by the simple expediency of having verbal dialogue, you listen. At least, the International Cricket Council should listen.

Their response to blithely write off Animation Research boss Ian Taylor's suggestions to allow his DRS operators to talk to the third umpire, or at least be accredited and sit close to the third official, is plainly turning the back on common sense.

Taylor's was not a call for his people to make decisions. It's about arming the third officials with all the facts. The third official then makes his decision from a stronger base.

As Taylor pointed out this week, imagine you're a batsman struggling to hold your place and you're sawn off on two by a Latham-type situation. Getting bowled, or caught at mid-off is different. Careers can stand or fall on technology.

The ICC are preparing for a full review of the technology next year, hopefully put in place by the end of the year.

You'd like to think the ICC would at least give communication more consideration than it received out of Dubai HQ this week.