by Renee Israel
Hard core cricket fans love a good contest anywhere in the world and the
Sri Lanka versus Pakistan Cricket Test series is providing just
that.
In the recently concluded first Test, Pakistan made a respectable 300 runs in
the fourth innings. Though they lost the match, it indicated that there would be
a stiff contest in the second Sri Lanka versus Pakistan Test match.
Sri Lanka and Pakistan Ask for DRS
The post mortem of the Sri Lanka versus Pakistan first Test match revolved
around the umpiring howlers made. The first Test was marred by at least 12
contentious decisions by umpires Steve Davis of Australia and Ian Gould of
England.
Though Pakistan bore the brunt of the faulty decisions, Sri Lanka and
Pakistan were united in their demand for the deployment of the Decision Review
System (DRS) in the remainder of the Sri Lanka versus Pakistan Test series. The
DRS uses ball tracking and thermal imaging to verify umpires' decisions. As
things stand, the DRS can be used if both teams agree and if the host nation
pays for its use.
The problem is that the cash-strapped Sri Lanka board cannot afford the DRS
and therefore it is not being used though both teams want it. Sri Lankan captain
Mahela Jayawardene said that the International Cricket Council (ICC) should pay
for the technology if individual boards cannot afford to pay for it.
He added, "I have always been a fan of the DRS. It might not be 100 percent
technology, but if we can use it to get the maximum number of correct decisions,
it will help the umpires as well."
The fact that the Sri Lanka cricket board used the DRS when England toured
the country earlier this year, but is not using it now has not gone down well
with the Pakistan camp. Particularly as they have been at the receiving end of
most of the bad decisions.
Pakistan coach Dave Whatmore slammed this selective implementation of the
DRS. "It does not seem right to me that you have it for one series and not for
another," he said.
Sri Lanka versus Pakistan Second Cricket Test
Coming back to the cricket, the second Test of the Sri Lanka versus Pakistan
series starts on June 30 at Colombo. Misbah-ul-Haq will be back to lead Pakistan
and this will make a big difference.
Misbah was suspended from the first Test for slow over rate in the ODI
series. However the online betting sites favour a Sri Lanka win. The odds at
Bet365 online for the second Test are as follows.
Sri Lanka vs Pakistan Test Cricket Odds
Sri Lanka win 9/5
Pakistan win 9/2
Draw 10/11
