Heather Knight said the decision not to deploy the Decision Review System was a sign of the status of women’s Test cricket after England’s emphatic victory over South Africa.
Knight captained England to their first Test win since 2014 as the tourists skittled South Africa for just 64 on day three in Bloemfontein to secure a comprehensive 286-run victory.
The absence of DRS did not influence the result, with England wrapping up the Proteas’ second innings in 19.4 overs, but it played a role in the chasm between the two sides, with South Africa on the end of a succession of dubious decisions.
It threw the South African Cricket Board’s decision not to spend $48,500 (£38,100) on adopting the technology into question, with Knight expressing her concerns.
“I was pretty shocked when I found out in the umpire’s meeting the day before that we weren’t going to have it,” Knight said. “I think it’s a real shame.
“You come to expect it as a player now, and I guess the reason is always money. But, particularly in Test cricket, where wickets are such a premium, it’s a really important thing to have.
“It’s probably a sign of the status of this game, maybe, that we didn’t have it, which is a bit frustrating.”
The lack of DRS in this match was a talking point once again when Annerie Dercksen (9) was given out caught at short leg by the third umpire despite the absence of UltraEdge technology to prove she had hit Lauren Bell’s ball to Tammy Beaumont.
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There is no DRS available for the women’s Test and that perhaps saved England’s Tammy Beaumont from being dismissed lbw by South Africa’s Marizanne Kapp in the first over
Dercksen’s contentious decision contributed to a historic collapse from South Africa as they slumped to their lowest ever score in a women’s Test match.
“We all thought she hit it and obviously the umpire delayed the decision,” Knight added. “I think the review was around whether it was a bump ball, but it was pretty clear it wasn’t, so I’m not really sure what happened there.”
South Africa head coach Mandla Mashimbyi expressed similar confusion surrounding the processes that led to Dercksen’s dismissal.
“There was no communication, and I didn’t understand why,” he said. “It was quite bizarre. But the umpires feel they made the right decision, and we can’t go against that.”
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South Africa’s Mlaba doesn’t ground her bat after a direct hit from Lauren Bell to seal a 286 run victory for England
Speaking after stumps on day two, South African all-rounder Marizanne Kapp said she preferred the use of DRS in short-form cricket over Tests.
“I don’t believe we’ve had it available [previously] for T20s and ODI cricket,” Kapp said. “So, it really helped in the ODI and T20 series.
“If I’m completely honest, I probably prefer having it in those two formats.
“We are probably disappointed we were on the wrong side of it, but it goes both ways. Even in the ODIs, there were one or two decisions England reviewed that went our way.
“That is just the game, it’s never easy for the umpires out there, even though you kind of get upset when it doesn’t go your way.”
England in South Africa – full schedule
T20 series (England won 3-0)
ODI series (England won 2-1)
One-off Test
- Bloemfontein – England won by 286 runs