Umpiring Controversies

DRS Controversy in Day-Night Test — Ahmedabad 2021

24-25 February 2021India vs England3rd Test, India vs England, Ahmedabad1 min readSeverity: Moderate

Summary

Multiple controversial LBW decisions in the pink-ball Ahmedabad Test that finished inside two days, with questions about ball tracking accuracy on a turning pitch.

What Happened

The third Test between India and England at the Motera Stadium in Ahmedabad became one of the shortest Tests in history, finishing in under two days. The pitch turned prodigiously from day one, and Axar Patel and R. Ashwin were virtually unplayable.

Several LBW decisions given by the on-field umpires and upheld by DRS raised eyebrows. Critics questioned whether ball tracking could accurately predict the trajectory on a pitch with such extreme and variable turn. The technology assumes a consistent bounce and deviation, which may not hold on a deteriorating surface.

England captain Joe Root questioned the reliability of DRS on such pitches, and former players like Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen criticized both the pitch and the officiating. The match saw 17 wickets fall to spin in England's two innings combined.

The broader debate about DRS accuracy on spinning pitches remains unresolved. Some experts argue that ball tracking models are less reliable when the ball is turning sharply and the pitch is uneven.

⚖️ The Verdict

Decisions stood but raised legitimate questions about DRS reliability on extreme turning pitches.

Tags

#drs#pink ball#ahmedabad#spin#lbw#day-night test

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