KFC BBL 2020-21: Shocking umpiring intensifies calls for DRS to be introduced

A shocking umpiring error in the KFC BBL encounter between Perth Scorchers and Sydney Thunder has intensified the calls for the DRS to be introduced in the league. Perth captain, Mitchell Marsh stated that he would be all in for the DRS technology to be introduced in the star-studded league after his side were robbed of a wicket in their seven wicket loss to Sydney Thunder.

Umpire, Simon Lightbody was heard telling AJ Tye that he believed Usman Khawaja’s bat hit the ground after a clear-cut caught behind appeal. However, Tye argued that the bat was nowhere close to the turf and the replays backed his opinion.

Mitchell Marsh, who has been a victim of poor umpiring decisions in the KFC BBL this year, would be keen for the DRS to be introduced.

“As a player you like to see stuff introduced, I would be all for it,” Marsh said. “It’s probably above my pay grade to really be commenting on that. But I’d certainly be all for it if it was introduced. It’s probably a case of (needing) to go all in, or not (at all).”

Also Read: Warner Formally Ruled Out Of Boxing Day Test, Not To Be Inducted Into Melbourne Bubble

The Big Bash has never used the DRS and was unable to spend $1.5 million dollars required for the latest technology, after their finances were hit by the covid-19 pandemic.

Maxwell and Ferguson call for the DRS to be introduced in the KFC BBL

Melbourne Stars captain and Australian all-rounder, Glenn Maxwell also pressed on the need to introduce the DRS.

“We get that umpiring isn’t easy!!” he posted on Twitter. “But surely with a stump mic, a bunch of different camera angles, and a basic understanding of cricket, the right decision could’ve been made without any of the fancy DRS bells and whistles? It was introduced to eliminate the howler,” he added.

We get that umpiring isn’t easy!! But surely with a stump mic, a bunch of different camera angles, and a basic understanding of cricket, the right decision could’ve been made without any of the fancy DRS bells and whistles? It was introduced to eliminate the howler… https://t.co/vILutllXhv

— Glenn Maxwell (@Gmaxi_32) December 22, 2020

Colin Munro, Tye’s teammate stated that he had heard the edge from near the boundary while he was fielding.

“I’ve got to really have my ears open at home to hear the Mrs talk to me, but I actually heard that from the boundary at backward square-leg,” Munro said on Fox Cricket.

Last week, Callum Ferguson, captain of Sydney Thunder said that the KFC BBL would fall behind it’s rivals if the latest technology was not introduced.

“We certainly like to think we’re in the top couple of T20 tournaments around the world,” Ferguson told the ABC. “But on the basis of not having little things like DRS in the place, I feel like we’re falling behind certainly the IPL. If we’re trying to be as good as we possibly can be, we’ve got to have little things like DRS in,” he added.