No UDRS for IND vs WI tour

The controversial Umpire Decision Review System will not be used in the forthcoming series between India and the West Indies after the BCCI convinced its Caribbean counterparts against the use of technology for the entire tour.

The implementation of UDRS in a bilateral series is the prerogative of the home board but the powerful BCCI, which has opposed the system from the onset, has forced the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to do away with it in the series, which starts with a T20 International here on Saturday.

A WICB spokesperson confirmed that UDRS will not be used in the one-off Twenty20 match, five ODIs or for that matter in the three Test matches.

Incidentally, UDRS was used when Pakistan toured the Caribbean recently.

India has been a staunch critic of UDRS ever since Sachin Tendulkar went public with his disapproval of the system in Sri Lanka a couple of years ago.

Just before the World Cup, Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni too gave his thumbs down to the system.

"I don't support the UDRS as you have two gentlemen standing as umpires on the field, who are professionals. They also have the support of the third umpire. Referral system, I personally believe is not a cent per cent thing. I am not going to buy a life jacket that doesn't come with a warranty," he had said.

The last straw for India, perhaps, was the World Cup league match against England in Bangalore.

In the 25th over of the England innings, Dhoni sought the help of UDRS when on-field umpire turned down an lbw appeal against Ian Bell off Yuvraj Singh.

The technology clearly showed that Bell was out as the ball was going to hit the middle stump but the third umpire ruled in favour of the batsman because the distance between the wicket and point of impact was more than 2.5 metres.

Bookmark this post:blogger tutorials Social Bookmarking Blogger Widget

I'm reading: No UDRS for IND vs WI tour ~

We are happy that Gayle is not playing

Indian captain Suresh Raina on Saturday expressed relief that Chris Gayle would be missing at least the first three games of the present limited overs series against his team.

"To be honest yes (I'm relieved)," Raina remarked on the eve of the Twenty20 match which opens the six-week tour against the West Indies here tomorrow.

Gayle took the recent IPL by storm. The West Indian was the highest scorer (608 runs) with a strike rate in excess of 183 for the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Raina remarked there is enough for his boys to be motivated to do well in the present series.

"There is no short of motivation now that we have a reputation to defend, we are the world champions."



I am hitting the ball well and learning all the time in the company of Stephen Fleming, Gary Kirsten and now Duncan Fletcher." Incidentally, all the three were left-handers during their careers.

Indian coach Duncan Fletcher is excited by the Indian team's talent, which he had a chance to see first hand as a consultant to New Zealand side last winter.

He also realises the challenge confronting him, not the least because different approach would be required while dealing with seniors vis-a-vis juniors.

"I was consultant to New Zealand (last winter) and just watching those young Indian players was very exciting.

These young players have the calibre, they have been exposed early to top class cricket. They look very positive," he said.

"Dealing juniors and seniors present different scenarios. Each player needs different handling. Personally for me, it's difficult to keep up with the standards they have set. Yet there is scope to get better and improve."

Fletcher seems to not consider the volume of cricket played in the negative light.

"With the volume there is also a bigger pool of cricketers. It is a reality and you need to adjust to the present demands."

West Indian captain Darren Sammy said his side was equally motivated to do well.

"They are the best side of the world and you are motivated to do well against them. I haven't performed as I would have liked to but I want to give off my best."

Sammy was not worried about the comments in the Caribbean that he did not quite deserve his place in the squad.

Bookmark this post:blogger tutorials Social Bookmarking Blogger Widget

I'm reading: We are happy that Gayle is not playing ~