Manjrekar on ‘poor supply of technology’ after Rahul’s dismissal sparks outrage on the improper use of DRS.
Manjrekar blames ‘poor supply of technology’ after Rahul falls to debatable DRS decision.
Before lunch on the first day of the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Perth, India opener KL Rahul was subjected to a contentious DRS judgement. According to Sanjay Manjrekar, this “important decision” ought to have been taken with more visual proof.
Following an appeal for an edge from bowler Mitchell Starc and the other Australian players to wicketkeeper Alex Carey, Rahul, who was playing at number 26, was declared not out by on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough. As the ball passed the bat, Snicko displayed a spike. And KL Rahul indicated that the bat had struck the pad as Australia asked for the review.
Richard Illingworth, the third umpire, asked Kettleborough to change his mind when Rahul left the pitch after a 74-ball effort, shaking his head. The wicket decided to bat and left India at 47 for 4.
Manjrekar claimed that there was a “poor supply of technology” and that if the decision was unclear, the TV umpire shouldn’t have requested the on-field umpire to reverse it.
“First of all, disappointed with what was provided to the TV umpire,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports. “He should have got more evidence. Based on just a couple of angles, I don’t think such an important decision in the match should have been made. My point is, with the naked eye there’s only one certainty and that’s the pad being hit by the bat. It’s the only visual certainty we’ve got that with the naked eye. For everything else, you needed the aid of technology, which is Snicko.
“So ideally, if there was bat, as an edge to the ball, there should have been an earlier spike because clearly two events there. And the umpire obviously heard one noise. The visual certainty was bat hitting the pad. If that was the spike, then there wasn’t an outside edge. If we were shown two spikes, then you could say the first one was the bat. So it was a poor supply of technology to TV umpire, and he should have said he can’t nail it.”
Manjrekar also called the moment a “travesty” considering India’s position in the match.
“If there weren’t two spikes, they should have gone with the visual evidence which was bat hitting the pad. I think it was poor all around, and I don’t blame the on-field umpire. You got to feel for KL Rahul, the amount of hard work that’s been put opening the innings. And such a big moment personally for him when you look at his career and for India too. Travesty in a way.”