RSA- Aus:Captains Brace for Use of Referral System

It has a hard fought battle so far with one or two of the Australians suffering a close call or two in the first session of the first day of the first Test at the Wanderers, Johannesburg. However, South Africa have resisted the use of the referral system in the first session, either in a case of smart thinking or an inexperienced reluctance.

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Both captains, Australia’s Ricky Ponting and South Africa’s Graeme Smith, expressed that they were really little aware of how they were going to go about using the referral system used during the series between India and Sri Lanka mid way last year. With the system being applied to the Test series and each innings limiting the sides to two appeals apiece in a bid to reverse the decision of the on field umpire, Ponting and Smith admitted to only having read about the ICC's Decision Review System.

South African coach Mickey Arthur welcomed the move as an opportunity to “improve decision making” on the field. While Smith hoped that decisions made would look to improve the consistency of decisions, Ponting joked around that as the top order batsman, he would use the privileged chances before the lower order could get to even thinking about using it.

If the system on trial actually meets with the approval of the players, it could significantly affect results as teams will now have the opportunity to reverse marginal decisions and thereby, change their otherwise fortunes in the game. Technology is there for the taking, though its flaws have been pointed out in plenty. Still plenty of refining is needed, but it is a start and the players are gamely embracing it, for the moment.