MELBOURNE: Seething after the Australian cricket team suffered a couple of setbacks in the first Test because of India’s refusal to have the Decision Review System, the media Down Under trained its guns on the visiting team’s coach, Duncan Fletcher, who has supported the DRS in the past.
Mike Hussey (0) and Ed Cowan (68) fell to controversial decisions on the opening day on Monday leaving Australia on shaky grounds at 277 for six.
India’s refusal to use DRS meant there were no referrals for these decisions and Fletcher, who had been a vocal supporter of DRS during his coaching stint with England, drew the ire of an agitated media.
It could prove a career-ending dismissal for Hussey, whose future in the Australian team is increasingly under threat amid a run of low scores.
Debutant opener Ed Cowan anchored the Australian innings with a stoic 68 in almost five hours and the best part of 68 overs after skipper Michael Clarke had won the toss.
Australia were in a strong position before paceman Zaheer Khan, playing in his first Test match since July, removed Clarke and Hussey with consecutive deliveries.
Cowan went three overs later ending a 294-minute vigil when he feathered a catch behind off spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Left-hander Cowan protected his wicket with steely patience and a willingness to leave the ball in his 177-ball knock.
“Duncan Fletcher hates hypocrites. The Indian coach must have trouble looking at himself in the mirror. For well over a decade, Fletcher has been a strong advocate for using technology to enhance umpiring decisions,” said ‘The Herald Sun’.
“Now he is a mute stooge as the flat earthers who run Indian cricket refuse to embrace the Umpire Decision Review System (DRS) for the four-Test series, beginning in Melbourne on Monday,” it added.
In his book – ‘Behind the Shades’ – Fletcher has stated that he was annoyed when the ECB did not consult him when the DRS was trialled in county cricket during 2007.
“The introduction of this referral system actually helped in my eventual resignation from the England job,” Fletcher had written.
“I was already feeling that the ECB was showing me no support during the World Cup in 2007 but it really miffed me that nobody spoke to me about this system. It was my idea after all, and nothing had changed since I first thought of it in Western Province in 1995.”
India, a staunch opposer of the system, had refused to allow DRS’ usage despite Cricket Australia being in favour of it. The ICC rules say that the system can be used only if both the Boards consent to it. (PTI)
