DRS Strategy in Cricket: When to Review and When to Save
The Decision Review System gives teams a limited number of referrals — learn how experienced teams use DRS strategically to overturn wrong decisions and preserve reviews.
What Is DRS?
The Decision Review System (DRS) — sometimes called UDRS (Universal DRS) — is technology-assisted system used in international cricket to review on-field umpiring decisions. Each team has a limited number of reviews per innings, and they can use them to challenge decisions they believe are incorrect.
How Many Reviews Does Each Team Get?
In Test cricket, each team starts with two reviews per innings. In ODIs and T20Is, each team typically has one review per innings (some bilateral series use two). A review is lost if it is unsuccessful — the on-field decision stands.
What Can Be Reviewed?
- LBW decisions (both out and not out)
- Caught behind decisions (whether the ball touched the bat or glove)
- Catch taken decisions (whether a catch was clean or grounded)
- Whether the ball crossed the boundary
- No-ball/front foot calls (referral to third umpire for confirmation)
Technologies Used in DRS
| Technology | What It Checks |
|---|---|
| Hawk-Eye (ball tracking) | Predicts ball trajectory for LBW reviews — would it have hit the stumps? |
| Snickometer / Real Snick | Detects tiny sounds from bat or pad contact for caught behind |
| Hot Spot (infra-red imaging) | Shows heat marks from ball-bat contact — not used in all series |
| Ultra-Edge | Audio spike technology to detect faint edges |
Strategic Use of Reviews
Teams do not review every decision that goes against them — that would exhaust reviews quickly. Strategic teams identify three key criteria before reviewing: genuine uncertainty about the decision, a plausible case for reversal based on trajectory or sound, and the match situation (preserving a review for the final overs of a close ODI may be more valuable than using it early).
Umpire's Call
For LBW reviews, Hawk-Eye uses a margin of error — if the ball is tracking to clip the edge of the stumps, the result may be 'Umpire's Call'. This means the on-field decision stands (whether out or not out), but crucially the reviewing team does not lose their review. This rule exists because ball tracking has a defined margin of error and borderline decisions should favour the on-field umpire.
Frequently asked questions
Can the fielding side review a not-out LBW decision?
Yes. Both the batting side and the fielding side can review LBW decisions. Fielding captains regularly review LBW shouts they believe should have been given out.
What happens if reviews expire before the end of an innings?
If both reviews are used up, the team has no further recourse for that innings. Any subsequent on-field decisions — even if clearly wrong — stand. Reviews reset to full allocation at the start of each new innings.
Is DRS available in all international matches?
No. DRS requires specific technology infrastructure. Some lower-ranked bilateral series, women's domestic tournaments, and series in certain countries have not always had full DRS available. The ICC mandates DRS for all marquee events including World Cups and ICC-sanctioned Tests.