MOHALI, India — India Test captain Virat Kohli gave a thumbs-up to the Decision Review System (DRS) Friday, signaling cricket’s financial powerhouse might permanently embrace the technology aimed at curbing umpiring errors.
It took a lot of cajoling to convince India, a staunch DRS opponent after their bitter 2008 initiation in Sri Lanka, to use the technology on a trial basis in the current five-Test series against England.
Kohli did not get it always right in the first two Tests but the India captain sounded pretty much a convert on the eve of the third match against England.
“I’m pretty happy with it...I think it is pretty fair for the game,” Kohli told reporters at the Punjab Cricket Association stadium Friday.
Kohli appreciated how the ball-tracking technology improved leg-before decisions without challenging the authority of the on-field umpires.
The age-old practice of shining the cricket ball has become a “grey area” and the game’s governing body must provide clarity to end the prevailing confusion, England captain Alastair Cook said.
The method, ostensibly to generate more swing with the ball with one shiny side, has come under scrutiny after South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was declared guilty of ball-tampering by the International Cricket Council (ICC) earlier this week.
Meanwhile, batsman Jos Buttler will replace the struggling Ben Duckett.
Cook also confirmed fast bowler Chris Woakes will return to the side for the game in Mohali. He will replace Stuart Broad, who strained a tendon in his right foot in Visakhapatnam.
Cook also said that Jonny Bairstow will continue to keep wicket in the longer format with Buttler playing as a specialist batsman.
Kohli said he was surprised that it had taken so long for England to bring Buttler back into the mix for Test matches.
“I was actually quite surprised to see him being left out after a couple of bad runs. I think he’s a very talented player and can do really well for England,” said Kohli. — Agencies
