Indian captain MS Dhoni wanted to have his cake and eat it on Friday and what MS wants, MS gets.
The stone-age attitude of the Indian board (BCCI) means the four-Test series between India and Australia has been played without the Decision Review System, under which both sides have two unsuccessful appeals at their disposal per innings.
Dhoni as such had no DRS appeals up his sleeve on Friday’s first day of play in the fourth Test against Australia, but he proceeded anyway to demand that the square-leg umpire call for a video review for a stumping.
The square-leg umpire did so.
The two on-field umpires are entitled to call for a third-umpire video review, however players aren’t.
“Players may not appeal to the umpire to use the replay system,” the ICC’s playing conditions state.
“… Breach of this provision would constitute dissent and the player could be liable for discipline under the ICC Code of Conduct.”
New Australian captain Shane Watson on seven was given not out in a very close decision over the stumping appeal.
This whole situation could have been streamlined if India had joined the modern age by employing the DRS and allowing Dhoni to simply call for a review.
We wait now for Sri Lankan match referee Ranjan Madugalle to see if he has deemed Dhoni’s actions worthy of a fine.
Given the enormous wealth and power of the BCCI, one can only wonder what the board’s reaction would be if Dhoni was handed a heavy fine. That could be a big “if”, however.