NOTTINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – Pakistan captain Salman Butt alluded to a hole in the Decision Review System yesterday after his team mate Azhar Ali chose not to refer his dismissal when he appeared to be not out against England.
Ali was out after being caught by wicketkeeper Matt Prior off the bowling of James Anderson for 14, although replays clearly showed the ball flicking the pocket of his trousers and seemingly not striking any part of his bat.
Butt revealed that Ali did edge the ball and said there was a blind spot on the televisual aid ‘Hotspot’ that did not show edges when the ball struck any plastic covering on the willow bats.
Ali’s was one of 15 wickets that fell on day two of the first test at Trent Bridge, as Pakistan slumped to 147 for nine at stumps in reply to England’s 354. Pakistan require a further eight runs to avoid being asked to follow-on.
“Obviously, we wanted (Ali) to be out there batting for long, but he edged it and if he is out he is out — you can’t do anything,” Butt told reporters.
“He knew he was out so there was no point taking the referral. If you are found out on the big screen it doesn’t look nice.
“This technology, like Hawk-Eye, is not 100 percent (accurate). When the ball hits the sticker (plastic covering) on the side (of the bat) it doesn’t leave a mark. It has happened before.
“It was very honest of Azhar Ali — good sportsmanship.”
Although both teams have used the DRS previously, it has never been used in England prior to this series.
Pakistan experienced problems with Hotspot on their tour of Australia this year, when Michael Clarke twice was heard by fielders to have edged the ball yet the televisual aid did not reveal an edge, Butt added.
England are also working out how to best use the new referral system but, as pace bowler James Anderson noted, they have enjoyed success with it so far.
“It’s trickier than it seems, and something we’re having to get used to,” he said. “We’ve probably not used it as well as we could in the past. But I think we’ve used it pretty well so far in this game.”