'Decision Review System good for cricket'

New Delhi:

A few players' resentment and concerns about dilution of authority of on-field officials notwithstanding, the Decision Review System is a "positive" innovation which has helped cut down umpiring errors, feel the cricketers Associations of South Africa and New Zealand.

"SACA and the general feeling of South African players towards the DRS is that it is positive for cricket provided that all the technology is made available and standardised for all matches. Technology in cricket is inevitable and it should be used as long as it is trusted and accurate," South African Cricket Association (SACA) CEO Tony Irish said.

New Zealand Cricket Players' Association (NZCPA) CEO Heath Mills also gave a thumbs up to the DRS and said the initial problems will fade away once the system's usage becomes more frequent.

"I can only go on our experience in the current series against Pakistan. I have had nothing but positive feedback from our players. Daniel Vettori thinks it is very good and feels it has ensured that better decisions are being made out in the middle on a more consistent basis," Mills said.

"There will always be odd teething problem with something new but we feel it has gone well so far and is certainly worth continuing at the moment," he added.

Asked if DRS will slow down Test matches which are already faced with dwindling spectator interest, Irish said, "It does have the effect of taking extra time but I think its just a matter of getting used to it and it will become quicker and an accepted part of the game.

DRS raised quite a furore after it was used in the ongoing Australia-West Indies Test series Down Under with skipper of the Caribbean side Chris Gayle and former umpire Dickie Bird criticising the technology.

Gayle went to the extent of saying that DRS "doesn't make any sense" to him.

However, Mills is of the view that DRS will not only ensure better decisions but will also add to spectator excitement.

"I think we now see the umpires working in a team of three and making better decisions collectively. The very good umpires who are confident and get most decisions right should have no worries," Mills said, when asked if DRS would undermine the umpire's role.

"Maybe those umpires who get decisions wrong may not like it but isn't that why it has been introduced? If we are getting better decisions isn't that what we are after?"

"I also think from a fan point of view it adds more excitement to the event so I don't think there are any issues with time delays. It probably adds to the atmosphere.

"The umpires should be heavily involved in DRS and any subtle changes that need to made they should take ownership of it then they will buy into it more," he added.