Stripped down UDRS under the spotlight

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	Canada had no luck with the UDRS when they were in the field © Associated Press Enlarge
Related Links Players/Officials: Ashish Bagai | Mahela Jayawardene Matches: Sri Lanka v Canada at Hambantota Series/Tournaments: ICC Cricket World Cup Teams: Canada | Sri Lanka

The unavailability of Hot Spot technology during the current World Cup came under scrutiny as co-hosts Sri Lanka opened their World Cup campaign with a thumping win over Canada today at Hambantota.

Mahela Jayawardene, Man of the Match for his 100, was the focus of two referrals from Canada for caught behind decisions, both of which went against the minnows. First, in the 23rd over with Jayawardene on 11, spinner Jimmy Hansra and wicketkeeper-captain Ashish Bagai went up for a huge appeal convinced an edge had been pouched.

The umpire turned it down, but Canada went for an immediate referral. TV replays suggested an edge, but were ultimately inconclusive and the decision remained. Then, in Hansra's very next over, they went up as Jayawardene attempted a drive. Again the umpire turned it down only for the second referral to be called and again TV replays failed to provide a decisive picture.

In October last year, the ICC had announced that Hot Spot cameras would be used in the semi-finals and final of the tournament. But an ICC spokesman later told ESPNcricinfo that, "the supplier of the Hot Spot technology advised that it was not willing to supply its cameras for the tournament so, accordingly, they will not be used at any stage in the tournament."

Though Jayawardene was potentially a beneficiary of the absence of Hot Spot, he said later that it was a concern not having it. "I think that's probably the downside to it and I don't think they have Snicko either. I am a big fan of the UDRS, I think if we have technology and if we can use it in a certain way we should."

The UDRS, in its current form, is reduced to its most basic requirements: a ball-tracker (Hawk-Eye), super slo-mo camera, and a 'clear' stump mic, none of which are particularly helpful with edges. "I think you need to make sure that fair decisions are being made and we need to help the umpires especially because in the conditions it's not easy for them to make correct decisions all the time," Jayawardene said. "There's more technology possible so we should use that."

Canada did make successful use of one referral when they batted, Bagai winning a decision in his favour after he had been given leg-before to Muttiah Muralitharan. "For us, this was the first time we were playing under that rule and our guys were not experienced with it," Canada coach Pubudu Dassanayake said. "Definitely without Hot Spot you can't take proper decisions for caught behinds."