SRSport Rules
Cricket

Reviews and umpire's call.

DRS is not trying to re-umpire every ball from zero. It checks the on-field decision and only overturns it when the evidence is strong enough under the review system.

Quick ruling: a team review asks the third umpire to test the original call with technology. If the evidence is clear, the call changes. If it is too close in key areas, umpire's call can keep the original decision.
Decision path

How the review works

  1. The player asks for a review within the allowed time.
  2. The third umpire checks the parts of the decision in order, using the right technology for each part.
  3. For LBW, this often means checking bat first, pitching, impact, and ball-tracking.
  4. If the evidence clearly shows the original decision was wrong, it is overturned.
  5. If the result sits in an umpire's call zone on a key part, the on-field decision stays.
What changes it

Details fans miss most

  • Umpire's call is not a mistake: it is the system saying the evidence is too close to fully overturn.
  • The order matters: if one check fails early, later checks may not matter.
  • Teams can keep or lose reviews based on the result: not every failed challenge costs the same in every competition.
  • Different dismissal types use different technology: edge checks and ball-tracking are not the same thing.
Common argument

"Technology showed it was out"

Sometimes technology shows it was very close to out, but not clearly enough to erase the on-field call. That is exactly where umpire's call comes in.