Confusion reigned during the third ODI between Sri Lanka and India after a DRS review from Suryakumar Yadav took longer than expected with the third umpire and players seemingly confused by the DRS protocols.

In the 23rd over of the Indian innings, Suryakumar was given out LBW after he tried to sweep Praveen Jayawickrama only to be struck on his pads. The Indian middle order batsman reviewed the decision with replays showing that the impact was outside off stump and also 2.5m away from the stumps.

While the DRS review should have stopped right there, TV umpire Raveendra Wimalasiri continued on to ball tracking with replays showing the ball hitting the stumps. Sri Lanka started celebrating and Suryakumar was seen walking off with Hardik Pandya, the next batter, even getting ready to come out. But, a brief discussion between the on-field umpires and the TV umpire ensured that Suryakumar was soon recalled.

The review ought to have ended when the impact was seen as just outside the off stump, but the third umpire went on to ball tracking, which is deemed unreliable when the distance of impact from stumps is more than 2.5m.

According to the ICC’s playing conditions, the Process of Consultation of DRS reviews come under 3.3 and the third umpire must tell the on-field umpire whether the ball is over 2.5m or not. The predictive path of the ball at a distance greater than 2.5m is discounted

Suryakumar Yadav’s expression tells it all 😄

How close was that call?#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/OXhKlYaVs2

— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) July 23, 2021

3.3 i) iii) With regard to determining whether the ball was likely to have hit the stumps:

– If a ‘not out’ decision is being reviewed, in order to report that the ball is
hitting the stumps, the evidence provided by technology should show that
the centre of the ball would have hit the stumps within an area demarcated
by a line drawn below the lower edge of the bails and down the middle of
the outer stumps.

However, where the evidence shows that the ball would have hit the
stumps within the demarcated area as set out above but that:
– The point of impact is 300cm or more from the stumps; or
– The point of impact is more than 250cm but less than 300cm from the
stumps and the distance between point of pitching and point of impact is
less than 40cm,
the original decision will stand (i.e. not out).

– If an ‘out’ decision is being reviewed, in order to report that the ball is
missing the stumps, the evidence of the technology should show that no
part of the ball would have made contact with any part of the stumps or
bails. 

In this case, though, the impact was outside off, which meant the 2.5m rule should not even have come into discussion. If it was indeed in line with the stumps the on-field decision would have stayed and Suryakumar would have been given out.

 

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