Should international cricket adopt DRS for wides, no-balls?

Cricket has come a long way since its inception and it has evolved overtime in various aspects of the game which also includes the technology coming into the picture. There was a time when the umpires call would be deemed as the final authority and players could hardly do anything about it. Moreover, umpires are humans after all, and human error is inevitable.

With this, errors have been witnessed during the matches on numerous occasions due to which the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced a path-breaking process called the ‘Decision Review System’. This allows the on-field umpires to consult with the third umpire in case a player challenges the on-field call. The DRS has many times assisted the teams and umpires in better decision-making process, however, on some occasions it has faltered.

As the decision comes into effect only for dismissals, there have been times when fans and players on the field have been baffled due to wrong no-ball calls and wide calls. One such instance was when India skipper Rohit Sharma slammed the on-field umpire in a T20I match against West Indies in 2022 for making the wrong call. During Ravi Bishnoi’s over, the on-field umpire signalled a wide ball despite there being a noise as the ball passed the batter (Roston Chase). Similar instances have occurred in terms of wrong no-ball calls.

The relevance of this discussion comes as the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) has adopted a drastic rule to allow players to be eligible to take DRS for wide and no-ball calls. This was implemented to make decision-making easier, more transparent, and fair for the sides contesting in the match. Therefore, teams will be able to use their allotted reviews to contest the umpire’s calls for dismissals, as well as wides and no-balls.

The underlying question is whether international cricket adopt DRS for wides, no-balls? With mega events like the ODI World Cup, T20 World Cup, World Test Championship, and regular bilateral games in place, teams competing in the events demand fairness in every aspect of the game. Because no-ball and wide ball calls are so important in the game and could be a game-changing factor, players should be allowed to challenge the umpire’s decision. After the WPL, the IPL is set to follow suit, and it is possible that the apex cricket council could ponder over the idea to include the new rules in international games.