Six decisions for the DRS
A look at the doubtful umpiring decisions over the first three days of the Galle Test between Sri Lanka and India
ESPNcricinfo staff
14-Aug-2015
In the Ashes, with much better technology and the Decision Review System available to the players, teams have been struggling to get many decisions overturned. In a series with no DRS and much inferior technology, the umpires in the Galle Test made at least six decisions that would have been overturned by DRS; four of these decisions would not have needed the ball-tracker projection, which is the major bone of contention for the BCCI
The mistakes began with the first real decision the umpires had to make in the match. Kaushal Silva went to hook Varun Aaron on day one, and was given out caught off his arm guard.
Soon after reaching his hundred on the second day, Virat Kohli was beaten while playing a sweep by an offbreak that pitched on middle and turned. This would have comfortably missed the leg stump, but he was given lbw.
Ajinkya Rahane's dismissal for a duck might look straightforward, but only if one did not keep the turning pitch in mind. The ball pitched outside off, turned in sharply to hit Rahane, who had a stride in, in front of middle. ESPNcricinfo's Hawk-Eye projection suggested the ball would have missed the leg stump comfortably.
In a decision similar to Silva's, Wriddhiman Saha was given out caught off the helmet after being beaten while attempting a hook.
Early in his knock in the second innings, Dinesh Chandimal top-edged a sweep onto his helmet and was caught at backward short leg. He wasn't given out, and went on to score a counterattacking hundred
Shortly after Chandimal's chance, Lahiru Thirimanne survived a clear bat-pad catch, a decision - like at least three others - that may have been overturned by basic and reliable technology