England batsman Joe Root asks for the third umpire's review after being given out against India in the first Test in Hyderabad. AP
England batsman Joe Root asks for the third umpire's review after being given out against India in the first Test in Hyderabad. AP
England batsman Joe Root asks for the third umpire's review after being given out against India in the first Test in Hyderabad. AP
England batsman Joe Root asks for the third umpire's review after being given out against India in the first Test in Hyderabad. AP

What is Decision Review System in cricket and how does it work?


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Cricket is one of the most enthralling sports in the world, but even its most ardent fans will admit it can get very complicated.

There are more than a dozen field positions, 11 modes of dismissals, different formats, varying duration of matches, field restrictions, and so on.

A newcomer might take months to cover the basics of the game, and a lot longer to grasp the intricacies of it.

The complexity was one of the reasons why cricket did not develop outside its traditional Commonwealth bases, but which is also one of its more charming aspects.

And you can’t get more complicated than the decision review system, which was introduced to reduce umpire errors.

As TV technology became more advanced at the turn of the century, umpire errors and their impact on match results got magnified to a degree where the same technology had to be utilised to reduce ‘human error’.

And thus, in 2008, the Decision Review System (DRS) – where players could directly review an umpire’s call – was trialled for the first time during a Test series between Sri Lanka and India.

From there, after a long-drawn process, the player DRS has become an integral part of international cricket with standard rules and implementation.

There are two types of reviews – one called by the umpires and the other requested by the player. There are no restriction on the number of times that on-field umpires can consult with the third umpire on calls and decisions. However players are restricted to a set number of unsuccessful challenges; and that is what we are looking into.

What is the Decision Review System?

It is a system by which players – either the fielding side or batsmen at the crease – can challenge a decision made by the umpire, whether out or not out.

Once a dismissal or non-dismissal has been adjudged by the umpire, the players have 15 seconds to consult among themselves to challenge the call by making a ‘T’ sign with their hands.

If the fielding side wants to challenge the decision, the call has to be made by the captain.

In Tests, teams are allowed three unsuccessful reviews per innings. In ODIs and T20s, it is two per innings.

Umpires get to look at multiple angles and make an informed decision after a player review. Satish Kumar / The National
Umpires get to look at multiple angles and make an informed decision after a player review. Satish Kumar / The National

What decisions are referred by players?

Two modes of dismissals – caught behind and lbw – are mainly referred by the players.

These are the modes of dismissal that generally require multiple technology, replays and angles to arrive at a decision, unlike other dismissals such as run out or catches in the outfield, which can be adjudged by a simple replay and are called by the umpire themselves.

Out of the two, the leg before wicket is the most laborious. First, the umpires check whether the batsman hit the ball or not. Then, whether the ball pitched outside the leg stump. Thereafter, whether the impact of the ball hitting the pads was outside the line of the stumps. And finally, whether the projected path of the ball would hit the stumps flush or partially or miss altogether.

Depending on whether the umpire originally gave the player out or not out, the subsequent findings upon player review assist the final verdict of the third umpire.

What technology is used for DRS?

There are three main tools used by the third umpire to adjudicate referrals. Apart from slow motion replays, the main technologies used are:

1. Hot spot: Thermal imaging used to detect whether the ball has touched the bat. Since it requires infrared cameras and does not always provide conclusive angles when ball goes past the bat, it is not widely used now.

2. Ultra Edge / Snicko: This is highly tuned audio device that picks up the faintest of edges, which works in conjunction with real time footage to show whether the batsman has edged the ball. In most cases, it shows a clear spike when the ball even brushes the bat’s edge.

3. Hawkeye: A highly sophisticated technology that was developed for cricket to aid lbw decisions, Hawkeye has been further refined and used extensively in sports like tennis and football. It is a ball-tracking technology that predicts, with accuracy, the projected path of the ball.

Hawkeye, which uses multiple camera angles, is mainly used to check whether the ball would have hit the stumps during lbw reviews, after taking into account the speed, bounce, and trajectory of the ball.

When does a decision get overturned?

Generally, especially with lbw referrals, there is enough evidence for the third umpire to adjudicate one way or the other.

Technology for detecting whether the batsman hit the ball and where the ball pitched are advanced enough to make it a clear-cut call – whether to uphold the decision made by on-field umpire or overturn.

But ball-tacking, which is the last step of the referral process, gets a bit tricky as it is a projection, after all. In the case of lbw calls, if the ball is projected to just brush the stumps, the final decision goes back to whatever the on-field call was – out or not out.

What has been the impact of DRS in cricket?

The number of bad calls has definitely come down in cricket; players who are clearly out or not out are readily found out.

There is a feeling among experts that umpires nowadays are more willing to give lbw decisions, knowing that technology is available to aid them in case they make a mistake.

However, according to data collected by ESPNcricinfo over the past two decades, there is almost no change in the actual number of lbw dismissals. In the decade before DRS was introduced (in 2008) and in the subsequent years after it, the percentage of lbw in all dismissals in international matches has been around the 17 per cent mark, be it partial or universal DRS implementation.

The percentages have remained almost exactly the same, which makes sense since international standard batsmen would normally miss roughly the same number of balls over a period of time and across various pitch conditions.

What has changed, however, is the number of bad decisions in those 17 odd per cent lbw decision. YouTube videos of old matches are filled with horrible umpire decisions, which have thankfully come down to close to zero with DRS involved.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
When Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi

  

 

 

 

Known as The Lady of Arabic Song, Umm Kulthum performed in Abu Dhabi on November 28, 1971, as part of celebrations for the fifth anniversary of the accession of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan as Ruler of Abu Dhabi. A concert hall was constructed for the event on land that is now Al Nahyan Stadium, behind Al Wahda Mall. The audience were treated to many of Kulthum's most well-known songs as part of the sold-out show, including Aghadan Alqak and Enta Omri.

 

The Freedom Artist

By Ben Okri (Head of Zeus)

Biog

Mr Kandhari is legally authorised to conduct marriages in the gurdwara

He has officiated weddings of Sikhs and people of different faiths from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Russia, the US and Canada

Father of two sons, grandfather of six

Plays golf once a week

Enjoys trying new holiday destinations with his wife and family

Walks for an hour every morning

Completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Loyola College, Chennai, India

2019 is a milestone because he completes 50 years in business

 

'Operation Mincemeat' 

Director: John Madden 

 

Cast: Colin Firth, Matthew Macfayden, Kelly Macdonald and Penelope Wilton

 

Rating: 4/5

 
Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

Results

Final: Iran beat Spain 6-3.

Play-off 3rd: UAE beat Russia 2-1 (in extra time).

Play-off 5th: Japan beat Egypt 7-2.

Play-off 7th: Italy beat Mexico 3-2.

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Silkhaus%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Aahan%20Bhojani%20and%20Ashmin%20Varma%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Property%20technology%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%247.75%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nuwa%20Capital%2C%20VentureSouq%2C%20Nordstar%2C%20Global%20Founders%20Capital%2C%20Yuj%20Ventures%20and%20Whiteboard%20Capital%3C%2Fp%3E%0A

Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20OneOrder%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20March%202022%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tamer%20Amer%20and%20Karim%20Maurice%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Cairo%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E82%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The biog

Title: General Practitioner with a speciality in cardiology

Previous jobs: Worked in well-known hospitals Jaslok and Breach Candy in Mumbai, India

Education: Medical degree from the Government Medical College in Nagpur

How it all began: opened his first clinic in Ajman in 1993

Family: a 90-year-old mother, wife and two daughters

Remembers a time when medicines from India were purchased per kilo

ESSENTIALS

The flights 
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
 

The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Brief scoreline:

Manchester United 2

Rashford 28', Martial 72'

Watford 1

Doucoure 90'

Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
  • Drones
  • Animals
  • Fireworks/ flares
  • Radios or power banks
  • Laser pointers
  • Glass
  • Selfie sticks/ umbrellas
  • Sharp objects
  • Political flags or banners
  • Bikes, skateboards or scooters
The specs: 2018 Infiniti QX80

Price: base / as tested: Dh335,000

Engine: 5.6-litre V8

Gearbox: Seven-speed automatic

Power: 400hp @ 5,800rpm

Torque: 560Nm @ 4,000rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 12.1L / 100km

Where to submit a sample

Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)

Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)

Friday

Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)

Valencia v Levante (midnight)

Saturday

Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)

Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)

Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)

Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)

Sunday

Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)

Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)

Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)

Profile

Company: Justmop.com

Date started: December 2015

Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan

Sector: Technology and home services

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai

Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month

Funding:  The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups. 

Timeline

2012-2015

The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East

May 2017

The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts

September 2021

Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act

October 2021

Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence 

December 2024

Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group

May 2025

The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan

July 2025

The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan

August 2025

Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision

October 2025

Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange

November 2025

180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE

FIXTURES

Monday, January 28
Iran v Japan, Hazza bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Tuesday, January 29
UAEv Qatar, Mohamed Bin Zayed Stadium (6pm)

Friday, February 1
Final, Zayed Sports City Stadium (6pm)

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Mission%3A%20Impossible%20-%20Dead%20Reckoning%20Part%20One
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Christopher%20McQuarrie%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Tom%20Cruise%2C%20Hayley%20Atwell%2C%20Pom%20Klementieff%2C%20Simon%20Pegg%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Our legal columnist

Name: Yousef Al Bahar

Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994

Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

Updated: January 31, 2024, 10:29 AM