DRS Strategy for Batters: When to Review & When to Save Your Review

The Decision Review System gives teams two reviews per innings in Tests (one in white-ball formats), and how those reviews are used — by both batting and fielding teams — is a critical tactical decision. A wasted review at the wrong moment can leave a batter unprotected against a genuinely incorrect decision later. Understanding DRS strategy is increasingly part of modern batting preparation.

When a Batter Should Review

• LBW when you hit it: if you are certain you got an inside edge before the pad, review — Ultra Edge will confirm.
• LBW when it pitched outside leg: the ball cannot be LBW if it pitched outside leg stump. If you felt it pitch wide of leg, review immediately.
• LBW when the impact was outside off stump: if the ball hit high on the pad or struck you outside the line of off stump while attempting a shot, review — Hawk-Eye often shows the impact was too wide.
• Caught behind when you did not hit it: if Ultra Edge (heard by both teams) shows no spike on your side, review to dispute the edge.

When a Batter Should NOT Review

• Bowled, caught at the crease, run out: no technology overturns these — the ball clearly hit the stumps or the catch is confirmed.
• Caught clearly at slip: if the catch was clean and unambiguous, do not waste a review.
• LBW when you know you hit it straight and it was on off stump: Hawk-Eye will confirm out — reviewing only confirms your dismissal.
• Your partner says 'don't review': batters often communicate — if your partner can see something you cannot, take their advice.

The Communication Protocol

In professional cricket, the batting side typically has a system: the non-striker talks to the striker before a review is requested (time allowing). They can see angles the striker cannot, particularly for LBW pitching decisions. If the non-striker saw the ball pitch outside leg, they wave the batter on to review. This communication lasts only a few seconds before the 15-second review window closes.

Saving Reviews for Later in the Innings

In Tests, reviews can be carried across different batters. A review wasted early in the innings may cost a tailender who edges one behind 80 overs later. Some teams adopt a strategy of protecting reviews for the lower order — accepting marginal decisions against the top order to preserve reviews when batting survival is most critical.

Famous DRS Errors and Masterstrokes

• Virat Kohli vs England 2014: Kohli famously lost several early reviews in tests — each on deliveries that Hawk-Eye confirmed as out. He developed a reputation for poor DRS judgement, which he significantly improved by 2021.
• Australia vs India 2021 (Gabba): an LBW decision on Tim Paine reviewed too quickly — the ball would have missed the stumps. The review was used and lost. India won the Test on a tight final day.
• Ben Stokes Ashes 2019: Stokes was given out LBW during his famous 135* at Headingley but reviewed — Hawk-Eye confirmed pitched outside leg stump. He went on to win the match.

Scenario: A number 10 batter is given out LBW in the last over of a day's play. The ball appeared to hit him on the shin. They review — Hawk-Eye confirms the ball pitched outside leg stump. The decision is overturned. The review is retained. They survive the day. The innings totals 20 more runs the next morning, setting up a tight finish.