Australian cricket team vice-captain Brad Haddin believes that the Decision Review System "should be taken out of players' hands, leaving the discretion to check doubtful dismissals entirely with the umpires," according to Saltau & Tuxworth of the CANBERRA TIMES. It is a call backed by a host of Test greats frustrated that it has failed to fulfil its main purpose of eliminating "howlers." The DRS "was a constant source of angst in the captivating first Ashes Test." A series of marginal calls "were decided by the referral system while one diabolical decision" -- to reprieve Stuart Broad of a thick edge to slip -- was not corrected because the Australians had used their quota of two incorrect reviews. Haddin would prefer that "it was not up to the players to challenge umpires' decisions." Haddin: "I personally think the umpires might as well use the reviews. I don't think they need to be in the players' hands, to be honest" (CANBERRA TIMES, 7/17). The PTI reported the Int'l Cricket Council on Tuesday admitted that the umpires made seven errors during the first Ashes Test between Australia and England, of which four were rectified using the DRS, "which has ignited a fresh debate on the technology." Reflecting on the assessment, ICC CEO David Richardson said, "The umpires did a good job under difficult conditions. This reflects the calibre of umpires Dar, Dharmasena and Erasmus, who have consistently performed at a high level. However, like the players, umpires can also have good and bad days but we all know that the umpire's decision, right or wrong, is final and must be accepted" (PTI, 7/16).
