UDRS version 2.0

The main problem with the Umpire Decision Review System is that people expect it to solve all wrong decisions. Having said that, the new system seems to have achieved a perfect balance between the available technology and accuracy. The new system of decision referral has captured an overall positive feedback. This statement can be emphasized by the fact that even the BCCI (the governing body of ICC) has accepted these rules. The change actually restricts DRS from using hawkeye, or other ball tracking systems and reducing the number of referrals to one per team per inning.

Hawk eye is opposed due to the reason that it doesn’t guarantee perfect mapping of ball trajectory, angle and delivery variations. While it may predict the trajectories wrong, few of the wrong decisions are basically due to the pitching issue, for which hawk eye seems to be an ideal solution. However to make things more confusing, think about this... It is relatively easy to bribe TV technicians than umpires (maybe BCCI also thought like this)

BCCI mainly opposes the Australian based hot spot because of the estimated cost. The most interesting thing is that among all the cricket boards, it is BCCI that is actually opposing the cost issue. Very strange !!

UDRS when used with Hawk Eye, a ball tracker, a super slow motion camera and a stump microphone, Snickometer and Hotspot synchronously can eliminate most of the wrong decisions. However, the cost would be extremely high and the boards will start wishing that umpires make wrong decisions, so that these technologies become real useful.

The majority of UDRS decisions will be helpful for batsmen, i.e an inside edge when being adjudged LBW, or the ball just hitting the thigh pad when being adjudged caught. This is not good news for bowlers in a sport in which they barely have respect these days.

Umpires in cricket have a huge role, compared to other sports. And talking about the on field umpires, the general thought is that UDRS reduces the pressure on them. Here again there is a contradiction. Umpire Daryll Harper, who had a rather ordinary India - Windies series has said “Technology is not the aid it is claimed to be in reviewing on-field decisions”.

To those who fear about whether these changes would actually benefit cricket, the answer would be that, the super sub rule was actually implemented with the above intention. But once they felt it did not receive enough support, the rule was discarded. So, the game always evolves constructively over time. And there can be a trial period for all experiments. While other sports have incorporated technology, this is the right time for cricket to evolve too.

Albie Morkel, the "Lance Klusener" of the modern Era, is the key to Success

Albie Morkel was signed by the Chennai Super Kings in the first ever IPL auction in 2008 and from the start of that season, the South African all-rounder has been an integral member of the team. The hard hitting batsman is one of the most experienced players in the T-20 format having played in various competitions in different countries.

Though he does not open the bowling for his country, Morkel has been comfortable with opening the bowling under skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for Chennai Super Kings.Dhoni is a captain who has an eye for detail and he has been astute in entrusting the all-rounder to open the attack.

JA Morkel, who is into his fourth season with CSK, has been one of the leading wicket tackers in the IPL with 53 wickets to his name. The 29-year-old is deceptively quick and he can be a handful when there is swing on offer for the bowlers.

One would only need to go back to his heroics in the Final of IPL edition 3 to understand the value he brings to the team through his bowling. Kieron Pollard was blazing on all cylinders when Albie Morkel took his wicket through a combination of smart bowling and exceptional field placements by Dhoni. That wicket ensured Chennai's first ever IPL trophy and the men in yellow would further go on to establish themselves as winners of the Champions League as well.

The South African's bowling has been integral to CSK but it should not be forgotten that his presence down the batting order provides the X-factor required for success in the T-20 format. The left handed batsman can make the crowd go ballistic with his huge hits and if he is in the mood, it is difficult to find a cricketer who can strike the ball better than him which is reflected by his impressive strike rate.

It is no surprise that he has regularly featured in the list of longest sixes hit in the IPL and added to that, he does not lose his cool under pressure. Temperament is crucial in all forms of the game, more so in the shortest format, and the captain's calmness seems to have rubbed off on his team-mates.

Despite Morkel's devastating ability to wreck bowling attacks, the management should have a re-think of which overs he should be batting. He is a batsman who likes to have a few balls on the middle of the bat before going berserk.

He has come in around the 18th over and has had no time to settle into his batting rhythm. Dhoni and Fleming should think of a strategy which would utilize Morkel's batting prowess to the maximum. The best option is to promote the left-hander up the order when CSK are off to a good start by the top order.

The decision to retain his services for this IPL shows the belief that the CSK management and captain have in the quality of the all-rounder. Though Albie Morkel was not selected for the World Cup, he has bounced back from the disappointment by playing at his devastating best for the Titans and CSK. He is arguably the "Lance Klusener" of the modern era and his performances could have a major impact on whether or not the Super Kings retain the prestigious IPL trophy.