Ashes 2019 | No harm in having more reviews, asserts Chris Rogers
Former Australia opener Chris Rogers has stated that the teams should have more reviews in Test cricket after Joel Wilson's error that reprieved Ben Stokes in Leeds, and eventually cost Australia the match. Rogers, however, added that Tim Paine making judgement error was down to the heavy pressure.
A lot of questions have been asked about Australia's DRS calls in the ongoing Ashes and they paid the heavy price at Headingley as a wasted review ended up gifting England the victory. When Nathan Lyon caught Jack Leach plumb in front, it was turned down by umpire Joel Wilson despite the ball going on to hit the middle stump.
Had a review been available, the nerve-wracking Test would have ended right at that point, with Australia retaining the urn. On being asked about the same, Chris Rogers stated that the teams should have more reviews in Test cricket.
“There should be more reviews available to both sides. The umpires are human, they will make mistakes. But matches and series are on the line, and careers are at stake. You need to get every decision right. I don’t see any harm in having more reviews," Rogers told Sportstar.
“Yes, the Aussies got it wrong and they accepted it. It happens in such a tense close game where the crowd is screaming and there is pressure all around. You do make mistakes.”
That, however, wasn't the only blunder by Australia in those tense moments as Nathan Lyon fluffed collecting a throw with Leach yards out the crease. Rogers put that down to the pressure factor.
“I know Lyon well, played with him, and I can realise how he will be feeling right now. He is a great competitor. If he can make such an error, you can imagine the pressure he must have been under.”
“Stokes batted brilliantly. You cannot take that away from him. Could we have done things differently? Looking back is always the easier option. Perhaps you could have brought the field up for Stokes and denied him those easy singles, made Leach face more of the bowling. But in the heat of the battle it is hard to make such decisions,” he observed.