DRS History: From Controversy to Essential Technology
The Decision Review System divided cricket opinion when introduced but is now considered indispensable. Trace its origins, contentious rollout, and how it has transformed umpiring accuracy.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if a team has no reviews left?
If a team exhausts both unsuccessful reviews, they cannot challenge any further on-field decisions until either their reviews reset (at the 80-over mark in Tests) or the innings ends. A team that used reviews unsuccessfully early in an innings is thus exposed to incorrect decisions later with no recourse. This creates significant strategic pressure around when to use a review — particularly for obvious dismissals versus marginal ones.
Has DRS ever made things worse?
DRS has introduced some new controversies — 'Umpire's Call' dismissals where the on-field not-out decision stands despite the ball hitting the stump are particularly contentious, as the technology shows impact but defers to the umpire's original call. Critics argue this undermines the purpose of the system. Additionally, Ultra Edge sensitivity occasionally shows spikes not caused by bat-ball contact (for example, rattling stumps or movement), requiring experienced review coordinators to distinguish genuine contact from noise.