'Stick a camera and microphone in the truck' - Michael Vaughan offers solution to keep DRS' integrity intact

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has proposed a straightforward solution to rebuild trust in the Decision Review System (DRS). Notably, the DRS system has taken center stage in the ongoing India-England Test series, sparking debates and raising eyebrows, especially in the English camp. England skipper Ben Stokes has been vocal about it too, emphasizing the need for a more transparent and reliable review process.

The third Test match in Rajkot witnessed a moment when Zak Crawley fell victim to a contentious umpire's call. A close examination of the DRS footage revealed that the ball had narrowly missed the leg stump, leaving the England captain and his team perplexed. Stokes, frustrated with the inconsistency between numerical evidence and graphics, sought clarification from match referee Jeff Crowe.

Also read: ‘Technology got it wrong’ - Ben Stokes unconvinced with Zak Crawley’s LBW decision against India

The controversy persisted in the fourth Test in Ranchi, with Joe Root's LBW dismissal under scrutiny. The ball-tracking system indicated that a significant portion of the ball was outside the line when it was pitched, casting doubt on the accuracy of the decision. Although Root initially accepted the decision, the subsequent review in the England dressing room hinted at lingering doubts.

Reacting to all the saga, Vaughan has advocated for increased transparency by installing cameras and microphones in the DRS room where decisions are made. Drawing parallels with FIFA's approach in football, he believes that this step would enhance accountability and integrity.

Vaughan pointed out the prevailing skepticism on social media regarding DRS decisions and stressed the importance of addressing the growing distrust. By bringing the decision-making process into the spotlight, cricket enthusiasts would gain insight into the intricacies of the technology and the role of human input.

Also read: Michael Vaughan alleges foul play in Hawk-Eye after Root's controversial dismissal, deletes post later

"It only takes one look at social media to see that a lot of people don’t trust it. There is so much anger and suspicion about decisions that go for or against certain teams. There’s suspicion about host broadcasters and who is in the truck. That is despite the technology companies not actually being from the same country as the host broadcaster. For instance, Hawk-Eye is a company from the UK but is being used in this series. They are just brought in by the host broadcaster," Vaughan wrote in his column for the Telegraph.

"So here’s a simple solution to help improve transparency and accountability: stick a camera and microphone in the truck so as a decision is being made, we all know exactly what is going on, and how much humans are involved. And if you stick an ICC official in there as well we’d know that the integrity – something we talk so much about in the game – is intact. You could argue that those running the technology in the truck are as important as the two standing umpires," he added.