If DRS shows that the ball is hitting the stumps, batsman should be given out: Sachin Tendulkar

The batting legends Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara recently shared their opinions on Decision Review System (DRS). The International Cricket Council (ICC) has increased the number of reviews per team in Test cricket from 2 to 3 in the view of the coronavirus pandemic.

Though former Indian captain Sachin Tendulkar is happy with this decision, he feels that the apex body should consider nullifying the umpire’s call when a team opts for an LBW decision as the batsman should be given out if the ball is hitting the stumps.

DRS was first introduced in a Test match in 2008 to get rid of umpiring howlers in cricket. It states that the ball must be hitting over 50% of the stumps for the decision to be overturned. The field umpires are given benefit of doubt in the case of marginal LBW decisions and their decision is termed as the final call.

What % of the ball hits the stumps doesn’t matter: Sachin Tendulkar

Posting a video of him and West Indies cricketer Brian Lara’s discussion on DRS, Tendulkar wrote on his official Twitter handle, “What % of the ball hits the stumps doesn’t matter, if DRS shows us that the ball is hitting the stumps, it should be given out, regardless of the on-field call. That’s the motive of using technology in cricket. As we know technology isn’t 100% right but neither are humans.”

The Mumbai Stalwart is of the view that the technology should be given more preference while dealing with the DRS decision as humans tend to make mistakes. Also, giving the example of the game of tennis, Tendulkar quoted that the decision should either be out or not out and there should be nothing in between.

“One thing I don’t agree with, with the ICC, is the DRS they’ve been using for quite some time. The only reason they (the batsman or the bowler) have gone upstairs is that they are unhappy with the on-field decision, so when the decision goes to the third umpire, let the technology take over; just like in tennis – it’s either in or out, there’s nothing in between,” he said in the video.

What % of the ball hits the stumps doesn’t matter, if DRS shows us that the ball is hitting the stumps, it should be given out, regardless of the on-field call. That's the motive of using technology in Cricket. As we know technology isn’t 100% right but neither are humans.#ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/8At80AtRs5

— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) July 11, 2020

Harbhajan Singh supports Sachin Tendulkar

Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh resonates with the views of the former Indian captain as he believes that the DRS rule should be changed for the betterment of the game.

The off-spinner tweeted, “Agree with you Paji 1000 percent correct. If the ball is touching the stump or kissing the stumps it should be given out. It does not matter how many parts of the ball hit the wicket..few rules should be changed in the game for the betterment of the game..this is certainly 1 of those.”

Agree with you Paji 1000 percent correct.. If the ball is touching the stump or kissing the Stumps it should be given out..It does not matter how much part of the ball hit the wicket..few rules should b changed in the game for betterment of the game..this is certainly 1 of those https://t.co/m1PfaIpR8y

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) July 11, 2020