Thaindian News

London, June 10 (IANS) The Indian cricket board has reportedly sent an official notification to the England and Wales Cricket Board, opposing the use of the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) in the upcoming Test series between the two nations.

According to the ICC regulations, the UDRS can be used in a series only with the consent of the boards. In the recent past, the UDRS has faced opposition from Indian cricketers, including Sachin Tendulkar and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who feel the technology cannot be trusted beyond limits.

Dhoni has been quite vocal in opposing the UDRS mainly after Ian Bell was given not out during a World Cup match in Banglore.

India will play four Tests against England starting July 21.

In May the ICC’s cricket committee recommended the use of UDRS in all forms of the game.

“There are moves for this to be implemented at the board’s annual meeting later in June but convincing India will be tough,” said a report in the Daily Telegraph.

“It is a blow for Graeme Swann, who acknowledged during last winter’s Ashes tour the benefit he has gained from the technology. Of his 138 wickets, 29.71 per cent have been lbw, the second highest proportion of any bowler in Test history,” the report said.

Former England off-spinner John Emburey said the reason India does not want the UDRS is that it “will favour our bowlers”.

“It (DRS) has been massive for spinners because they are now getting wickets against batsmen playing on the front foot coming forward. It’s a massive advantage to the spinner. The system has shown balls would go on to hit the stumps and umpires have now got it in their minds that they can now give batsmen out,” Emburey was quoted as saying.

Emburey also said what UDRS has done is that it has forced the batsmen to play with the bat rather than hide behind the pads. This, in turn, gives the bowler more chances of edges and catches as the batsmen are forced to face the bowl.