NOTTINGHAM, July 8 (AFP): Something rather strange, by modern standards, will happen when either Australia's Bruce Oxenford or Sri Lanka's Kumar Dharmasena raises his finger in the first Test between England and India.
For any batsman seeing the time-honoured signal confirming his dismissal will be unable to challenge the decision, just as the fielding side will have no way of overturning a call of "not out".
That is because the controversial Decision Review System will not be in operation throughout the five-Test series, which starts at Nottingham's Trent Bridge Wednesday.
While standardised playing conditions apply during an International Cricket Council tournament such as the one-day World Cup, for "bilateral series" they are a matter of agreement between the two teams.
And with India responsible for some two-thirds of world cricket's global income, on account of the mass enthusiasm for the sport in the world's second-most populous nation, there was never any danger of their wishes being ignored on this tour.
That is especially true now since this is the first series between two of cricket's 'big three nations' of India, England and Australia following their effective takeover of the ICC.
While DRS exists to eliminate 'howlers' by on-field officials, it was responsible for arguably the most contentious decision in an Anglo-Indian match of recent times.
During a 2011 World Cup clash in Bangalore, England's Ian Bell was given not out by Billy Bowden after India spinner Yuvraj Singh appealed for lbw.
But Yuvraj was certain Bell was out and persuaded India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to request a review.
Umpires strike back in England-India series
FE Team | Published: July 09, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00
Share if you like