The controversial Decision Review System (DRS) has come under fire again after Mitchell Marsh’s dismissal on day five of the first Test between Australia and South Africa at WACA. Former Australian captains Michael Clarke and Mark Taylor both questioned the accuracy of the ball-tracking technology.
Marsh, who was batting on 26, was initially given not out on the field before South Africa successfully reviewed to hand Kagiso Rabada his fourth wicket and put Australia in further trouble in their chase of 539 on the fifth morning.
The full ball was directed on leg stump and hit the foot first before hitting the bat and going down the ground. The fact that it hit both pad and bat had the on-field umpire confused and thereby the not out verdict. However, upon review, the ball-tracking technology showed that the ball was hitting more than 50 per cent of Marsh’s leg stump and was sent back to the pavilion.
The decision hasn’t gone down well with former Australian captains who claimed that the technology was flawed and called Marsh “very unlucky” to be dismissed like this. Leading the disagreement was Michael Clarke who said he thought it was “missing the stumps”.
"I was certain that was missing the stumps," Clarke said on commentary. "When you look at that replay, I thought it was definitely swinging too far and missing the leg stump. He'll be really disappointed with that. It has clipped his toe, then clipped his pad, and then got onto the bat.
"But what I don't agree with is the line of the delivery once the ball hits him on the toe ... I believe the line of that delivery is going down and missing leg stump."
Clarke's co-commentator Taylor agreed, saying the ball-tracking technology appeared to show the ball to be seaming back away from Marsh, which was enough to hit at least 50 per cent of the leg stump and overturn the on-field decision.
“Watching those replays I thought Mitchell Marsh would be fine," Taylor said. "He was given not out so the technology has to prove that he was definitely out to overturn the decision.It almost looks like the ball seamed back a little bit and just done enough for 50 per cent to hit the outside of the stump, meaning the not out call was overturned.
"I reckon the ball is going to flick the stumps at best. But to be overturned, Mitchell Marsh is very unlucky.”
Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson too tweeted his disapproval.
You can see a video of the dismissal of Mitchell Marsh here.
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