DRS (Decision Review System) changed cricket forever. Before it, you'd see terrible umpiring decisions decide matches. Now teams can challenge calls they think are wrong. Here's how the whole system works.
Each team gets a limited number of reviews per innings (usually 2 in Tests, 1 in T20s). If your review is successful (decision overturned), you keep it. If it fails, you lose a review. Use them wisely.
Ball tracking (Hawkeye): Predicts the ball's path to determine LBW decisions. Uses 6 cameras tracking the ball from release to impact.
Ultra-Edge (Snicko): Detects if the ball hit the bat edge. Uses a microphone in the stump and sound-wave analysis. If there's a spike when the ball passes the bat, there was contact.
Hot Spot: Infrared cameras that show heat generated by friction when the ball touches the bat. A white mark appears at the contact point.
The most debated part of DRS. For LBW decisions, if less than half the ball is hitting the stump, the original decision stands. This "umpire's call" zone exists to respect the on-field umpire when the decision is marginal. Fans hate it. The ICC defends it. It's not going anywhere.
The third umpire also checks for no-balls on dismissals, whether catches were taken cleanly, and whether the fielder was inside the boundary. In modern cricket, the third umpire is involved in almost every dismissal.
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