After facing a close loss in the recently-concluded first Test of the four-match series against India, Australia skipper Tim Paine has expressed his frustration over the much-discussed Decision Review System (DRS). Not much went right for the Australians in Adelaide and DRS was probably one of them. Consequently, the Australian team survived some frustrating moments during the close loss.
In the first innings, Cheteshwar Pujara, who scored 123 and 71, was saved twice after he reviewed the on-field umpire’s decision. On Sunday, on-field umpire Nigel Llong had adjudged Ajinkya Rahane out caught at bat-pad for 17, but the batsman reviewed it and the replays showed that the ball had hit the batsman’s front pad outside the line of off stump and missed his bat and gloves.
The decisions eventually made the difference as Australia lost a thriller in Adelaide. Chasing an improbable target of 323, the hosts were reeling at 187 for 7. However, some remarkable fightback from the lower-order helped them claw their way back into the game. At one stage, it looked like the Aussies would pull off a major upset but they were eventually bundled out for 291. And Paine did not hide his frustration as he criticized the much-debated DRS.
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As per the reports in ‘Sydney Morning Herald’, Paine said, “Look, it’s (DRS) not a perfect system and I haven’t got the answers. It’s just frustrating, I’d imagine it’s frustrating for everyone. But it is what it is. I don’t want to talk about DRS. It’s just – it is what it is. A lot of balls seem to be going over the top of the stumps, I know that that life doesn’t look like they are. So yeah, it is what it is.”
Another moment that would have rubbed salt to Australia’s wounds took place when they were chasing. Aaron Finch was given out caught off Ravi Ashwin. As Finch had some doubts regarding the dismissal, Finch consulted his partner and walked away without reviewing the decision.
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Replays later showed that the ball had not touched the gloves. Speaking about that decision, Paine said, “It’s one of those things. You can’t do much about it. We’ve been told Aaron’s, for instance, would still not have been overturned. Yeah, the DRS is interesting. It’s a bit different when the batters are out there, it’s up to those two, isn’t it? Aaron felt something on his glove, it ended up being his pad, that can happen.”
Meanwhile, Paine has confirmed he is fit to play for the crucial second Test in Perth, starting December 14. There were some doubts over his participation in the next game but the ‘keeper-batsman said he is raring to go in Perth.
