BBL 10: DRS debate gains steam again as Callum Ferguson stayed firm on backing the technology

With new rules and new look squads the 10th season of the Big Bash League (BBL) has been off and running since its first game on Thursday, however, what hasn't changed is the discussion around non-availability of the Decision Review System (DRS).

In the third game of the ongoing edition of the league between Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thudner, there was not one or two, but three decisions that could potentially have been overturned, had the technology been available to the players.

However, the debate got heated when Thunder opening batsman Usman Khawaja was given caught-behind out when there was clear daylight between the bat and the ball.

The umpires weren't at fault since from the front angle, the ball looked to have gone past the bat very closely. But, replays confirmed it that the ball had taken an edge of the trouser on its way and was nowhere close to the bat.

Similarly in Andre Fletcher's case, the leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha's ball was going down leg, but the 'Spiceman' was adjudged LBW out. 

For the 'Health of the Competition'

Former Australian wicket-keeper batsman Adam Gilchrist in commentary during the game was pretty vocal about in favour of the system and the importance of it considering some big players fell prey to these errors. 

Thunder skipper Callum Ferguson too echoed Gilchrist's views saying that fans shouldn't miss on seeing their favourite players due to lack of technology, keeping the popularity and the health of the competition in mind.

After his side's loss to the Stars, Ferguson said, "I’ve been pretty firm on this one for a long time and I believe it needs to happen and the sooner it happens the better.

“It’s going to save us some of those moments when the players who do bring people through the gates have an opportunity to review and make sure we don’t see too many howlers.

“It’s a tough gig, umpiring, and it gives them a bit of help too. I’ve been firm and I’ll continue to be firm that we need DRS," he added.

Emphathising with the job of the umpires, Ferguson didn't criticise the officials on the field for their decisions rather spoke animatedly on the importance of the DRS system.

The exhorbitant cost

The main reason for its unavailability has been the cost. As per a report in cricket.com.au, the cost of technologies like Ultra Edge, Hot Spot and ball tracking is understood to be around $2 million (INR 14.5 crores approx.) for a full BBL season.

Like on Saturday, sometimes the games are played at two different venues on the same day, so availability of the same technology at every venue in a domestic tournament gets out of the cost for Cricket Australia.

Something better than nothing

However, both Gilchrist and Ferguson even backed a minimal filtered version of the DRS, at least something to aid the umpires and allow the TV umpire to iverturn if there's an evident incorrect decision given.

“You often hear discussion that the cost of it has got a fair bit to do with it … I can’t speak on behalf of the players, but I assume they would say ‘we don’t care about the level of technology, it doesn’t have to be what’s at every ICC sanctioned event’,” Gilchrist said during commentary on Fox Cricket.

“Even if it’s the cameras that are a bare minimum, let’s roll with it, we’ll roll the dice and if it doesn’t get picked up or it’s inconclusive, they’ll wear that.

"We don't want to see the biggest names in this tournament having to leave (the field) due to errors that can be very quickly overturned.”

Not a great start for Thunder

Thunder lost the game by 22 runs. At one point when Ferguson himself and Alex Hales were batting, Thunder were looking in a good position to challenge the Stars' 170 score. However, losing Hales and soon losing Ferguson after his fifty didn't help Thunder's cause as leg-spinner Adam Zampa's spell of 2/10 in his four overs proved too good for them in the end.

Stars now have won two out of two in the back-to-back games and have certainly started their BBL 10 campaign on a positive note.

(With inputs from cricket.com.au)