The veteran Australia opener David Warner explained that the rare outburst at the umpire during Australia’s win over Sri Lanka on Monday, October 16 was just letting out frustration as he called for more transparency with the DRS, especially in terms of the ball-tracking system.
“I’ve never had Hawk-Eye come in and explain to us how the technology actually works, it’s just for the TV, If they could come in and explain to us how it works, then sometimes we might (choose) not to refer or to refer,” David Warner said, as quoted by cricket.com.au. “In England, the ball bounces and it actually moves once it’s bounced, not just off the seam but in the air it can move,” he added.
David Warner was frustrated after he was given out LBW in Australia’s chase of 210 and the opening batter came up with an animated reaction after his review did not overturn on-field umpire Joel Wilson’s reaction. Warner was seen expressing his disappointment with the umpire and he smashed his bat on the way back to the pavilion even as Dilshan Madushanka was celebrating the big scalp.
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Warner did not look impressed as he was seen checking the replays again and again from the dressing room. Warner was sitting in the changing room with a disgruntled look on his face as the television cameras kept focusing on him. It all began in the 4th over when David Warner was given out to a ball that nipped back and hit the pads from Madushanka.
David Warner went for the review immediately and the replays suggested that the ball was angling down the leg and might have missed the stumps because of the height. However, the ball-tracking showed that the ball clipped the leg-stump and it remained the umpire’s call. Warner explained his chat with umpire Joel Wilson and what led to his frustration after seeing the replays on the big screen.
“The umpire said the ball was swinging back so to his credit, if he thinks that then that’s why he’s given a decision. But then when you see the replay of how it unfolded you get a little bit annoyed, (but) that’s out of our control. I just sprayed out loud in frustration pretty much just (to) myself,” he added.
Australia lost Steve Smith for 0 in the same over right after David Warner’s exit. However, the fifties from Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis helped the 5-time champions chase down 210 in 35.2 overs and script their first win in World Cup 2023.
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Warner’s outburst was a rare one, but it is understandable given his frustration with the DRS system. The ball-tracking technology is a valuable tool, but it is not perfect, and there is always going to be a margin of error. Warner is calling for more transparency and accountability from the ICC, and that is something that should be considered.
