More than a decade after it began, the Big Bash League is finally set to feature DRS this summer – although teams will be restricted to one review per innings to save time.
Spread across 14 cricket grounds, with multiple games played in different cities on the same day and virtually all requiring flights between each venue, the system’s introduction will be a huge logistical undertaking.
Teams will each get one unsuccessful DRS challenge in the upcoming Big Bash season.Credit:Getty Images
Industry sources told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald that teams will get one unsuccessful review each, consistent with the regulations followed in most other Twenty20 leagues and also The Hundred in England, with 15 seconds available to make the request.
Only the IPL, which afforded teams two unsuccessful reviews per innings at this year’s tournament, has allowed more latitude in terms of referrals.
The use of technology to aid umpires has long been desired by players to help eliminate standout poor decisions, all of which are amplified by the league’s broadcast coverage.
However, administrators were reluctant to do so for some years due to the amount of time DRS can take up. Globally, the Pakistan Super League was the first such tournament to introduce DRS, doing so in 2017.
Calls for DRS to be introduced to the BBL would likely have been acted on earlier by Cricket Australia if not for the onset of COVID-19, which vastly increased the degree of complexity for the logistics of transporting equipment and operators from state to state.
During the 2020-21 season, a men’s Test match between Australia and India at the Gabba came perilously close to being played without any DRS oversight due to border restrictions between New South Wales and Queensland.
Last summer, initial plans catered for the introduction of DRS, only for the measure to be withdrawn a few weeks before the opening game.
“The providers have said that the BBL is probably one of the most complex competitions in the world given the number of games, states and venues across multiple broadcasters,” the head of the BBL, Alistair Dobson, told ESPN Cricinfo at the time.
“While there was the potential to bring it in during a normal year, all the additional challenges have meant it’s not going to be possible this season which is disappointing in a way, but whatever we bring we want to make sure it’s reliable and the integrity of the competition can be maintained.“
Numerous “howlers” have marred the competition over its first 11 editions. Few were more publicised than a decision to give Usman Khawaja not out when he clearly edged AJ Tye behind during a game between Sydney Thunder and Perth Scorchers at Manuka Oval in 2020.
The umpire, Simon Lightbody, was heard on stump microphones to indicate to Tye that Khawaja’s bat had hit the ground, leaving the bowler dumbfounded.
A day later, Tom Cooper was given out lbw to the left-arm spin of Danny Briggs when replays showed he had hit the ball with the toe of his bat. The late Shane Warne, in commentary, made his feelings clear.
“Oh my goodness … what is going on with this umpiring?” he said. “Something has to be done. This is just ridiculous. Not another one. Oh my goodness, look at that, geez. Wow, I mean, just come on. I mean enough’s enough. Enough is enough.”
Fewer such scenes can be expected this summer.
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