Sri Lankan batsman Dilruwan Perera was on Sunday caught on camera looking at the dressing room before he asked for a review to overturn an LBW decision by on-field umpire Nigel Llong.
It brought back memories of the ‘brain fade’ moment when Australian skipper Steve Smith looked at the dressing room for hints after his dismissal during the second Test in Bangalore last March.
The incident at the Eden Gardens happened in the last ball of 57th over with Perera yet to open his account when he was struck on the backfoot by an in-swinger. The impact looked in-line at first viewing and was given out by Llong.
Perera first looked at his partner Rangana Herath and started walking back immediately towards the pavilion. But he suddenly opted to review after turning towards the dressing room.
It was, however, not clear whether any assistance came from the dressing room. The whole incident was caught on TV camera, as commentators began referring to the Steve Smith controversy.
The decision was eventually overturned as the impact was marginally outside the line and Perera survived but strangely there was no protest from Virat Kohli and Co.
During the Bangalore Test in March, Kohli had fought over Smith’s decision and it had snowballed into a big controversy. The Indian cricketers today seemed to have overlooked the entire incident despite Perera being clearly caught in the moment looking at the dressing room.
If the idea is to get right decisions, I don’t see why the dressing room shouldn’t get involved in DRS reviews. Time to rethink the rules?
— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) November 19, 2017
Certainly worth a debate but guess we need to look at things in the light of current rules..... https://t.co/bhKRhsyHg9
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 19, 2017
In other news, BDRS or 'Brainfade DRS' makes another appearance. Perera walked... and then turned to signal. How does a batsman who walked allowed to come back and ask for review? ICC needs to start monitoring this. #IndvSL
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 19, 2017
Just when you thought this series could not get more India-Australia after the ‘Indian batting disaster in 1st innings of 1st test’ trope... https://t.co/I9GKrgHZOD
— Tareque Laskar (@tarequelaskar) November 19, 2017
According the ICC Standard Test Match Playing Conditions for 2016-17, the umpires may decline a review if they believe the fielding captain or batsman has received any outside input.
The Playing Conditions states.
“The captain may consult with the bowler and other fielders or the two batsmen may consult with each other prior to deciding whether to request a Player Review. Under no circumstances is any player permitted to query an umpire about any aspect of a decision before deciding on whether or not to request a Player Review. If the umpires believe that the captain or batsman has received direct or indirect input emanating other than from the players on the field, then they may at their discretion decline the request for a Player Review. In particular, signals from the dressing room must not be given.”
With PTI inputs