Whatmore wants umpire’s call in DRS to go

The celebrated coach, here to guide youngsters at the Trucoach CSS-Whatmore Centre for Cricket, said in a conversation with Sportstar here on Tuesday, “A lot of heartburn is caused because of the umpire’s call. You want a cricketer to be adjudged out if the ball is hitting any part of the stumps. The DRS will be much better off without it.”

Dav Whatmore is in Chennai to guide youngsters at the Trucoach CSS-Whatmore Centre for Cricket.

 

Dav Whatmore wants umpire’s call in DRS to go. “If the ball is hitting the stumps, it is hitting the stumps. Take umpire’s call out,” he said.

The celebrated coach, here to guide youngsters at the Trucoach CSS-Whatmore Centre for Cricket, said in a conversation with Sportstar here on Tuesday, “A lot of heartburn is caused because of the umpire’s call. You want a cricketer to be adjudged out if the ball is hitting any part of the stumps. The DRS will be much better off without it.”

Dwelling on the India-Australia Test series, Whatmore said, “It was Kuldeep Yadav, who changed the game for India on day one. Australia was looking on course for 450 when he broke the back of the line-up. Kuldeep is different, being a left-arm Chinaman bowler, and is accurate.”

On the verbal spats between the cricketers from the two teams during the series, Whatmore said, “India and Australia have a history isn’t it? This was bound to happen this time also since the sides were being led by two confident, aggressive captains who wouldn’t look back. But at the end of the day, much of the cricket too was engrossing.”

Looking back at the Steve Smith’s DRS incident in Bengaluru, Whatmore said, “It was a total mental fade out. But I don’t think the Australians did this (seeking assistance from team-mates in the pavilion) deliberately. I would be very surprised if they did that.”

Talking about the two off-spinners on view in the series, Whatmore said, “Lyon has a nice action, has over-spin and gets bounce. Ashwin is more front on, he gets drift and has side-spin and variety. Both played their parts in the series but perhaps, Lyon had more success.”

About fast bowler Umesh Yadav’s bowling in the series, Whatmore said, “He’s an unsung hero, works like a Trojan, is fast and consistent.”

Ravindra Jadeja, Whatmore felt, added weight to the line-up. “He’s become smarter as a bowler and walks in late and makes a difference with the bat. Valuable.”

Despite the series defeat, Whatmore said there were some positives for Australia. “They were up for a fight in this series. The manner Pat Cummins bowled augurs well for Australia in the Ashes.”

For India, Virat Kohli will be back among the runs soon, Whatmore felt.