Rajkot to witness DRS system for first time in India-England series
RAJKOT: The Decision Review System will be in focus when India take on England in the upcoming fiveTest series and the home team’s vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane on Monday said the side has made some plans on how to approach the controversial technology. “It’s a completely new concept. We have to wait and see about DRS. We have been discussing about this from the last series (against New Zealand) and we have (formulated) some plans. We will spend some (more) time explaining about DRS (to team members), how it works and how we should approach it, but the main focus is to play good, attacking cricket and DRS will come later on,” Rahane told reporters ahead of the series starting on Wednesday here. The DRS, which had been vehemently opposed by the BCCI in the past citing lack of accuracy, finally got its approval for the upcoming series on a trial basis. India had refused to play under DRS after getting the rough end of the system in Sri Lanka. “We are looking to play some good cricket. Right now we are focussed on building our strength and playing to our strengths,” said Rahane. Rahane said the wicketkeeper and himself as a specialist slip fielder will need to give proper inputs to the captain to make optimum use of DRS. “The wicketkeeper is very important (in the use of DRS) and as a slip fielder you have that role to convey the message to the captain and the bowler. We have to wait and see how it goes in the series. “And as a batsman you are completely involved in the game. You have to see where the ball is going and convey it to your partner. You have to be sure (whether to ask for a review or not) all the time,” he said. For the first time in over three decades, India would be involved in a five-Test rubber against any team and Rahane said the side has learned the importance of remaining fresh and eager till the end when they played against England and lost 1- 3 in their previous on-field confrontation. “In a five-match series it’s important to be fresh till the last Test. We played a five match series in England (in 2014) and got an idea about how to approach. That was a great learning experience as a young unit. Rajkot to witness DRS system for first time in India-England series It was important to remain fresh till the fifth match. You (also) get an opportunity to come back while playing a five-match series,” he explained. “Playing against England will be a challenge. They have a decent side; their bating line-up is pretty experienced. Their batsmen have been here – (captain) Alastair Cook, Joe Root and all. Yes their spinners are new. Their bowling attack is comparatively inexperienced, especially the spinners,” he said. (PTI)