Durban, Dec. 29: South Africa skipper Graeme Smith indirectly lashed out at the Indian cricket control board’s reluctance to use the Umpire Decision Review System, saying that the International Cricket Council’s wavering stand was leading to confusion about the role of umpires.
“The ICC needs to take responsibility for that. They need to lead the way. They can’t leave it up to the Boards to negotiate. If the technology is available and they want us to use it, then we must use it,” Smith said at the post-match media conference.
“Then you can have a proper idea of whether it works or not. But using it once every seven series is not going to benefit anybody,” the South African skipper seemed distinctly unhappy as Mark Boucher and A.B. de Villiers fell victim to dodgy decisions by umpires Asad Rauf and Steve Davis at a crucial juncture of the game.
Smith, however, admitted that their batting collapse in the first innings was the primary reason behind the defeat. “I think we probably lost the Test match on Day 2. I don’t think it was a 131-wicket. Getting bowled out for that just wasn’t good enough,” he was forthright in his assessment.