By Zainab Shafiq 
The discontent brewing among WBBL players and coaches due to the absence of the Decision Review System (DRS) and third umpires in some games continues to grow. Melbourne Renegades’ players Georgia Wareham and Hayley Matthews have been vocal about their frustration with the current state of affairs and their desire for more advanced technology to be permanently implemented in the future.
Throughout the WBBL season, there have been multiple instances where incorrect stumping and run-out decisions have significantly impacted match outcomes, especially when a third umpire was not available to review crucial moments.
Out of the 59 games in the season, only 24 are full television broadcasts equipped with DRS and third umpire reviews, accessible to both teams and the on-field officials. The remaining matches are broadcast through streamlined streaming services, devoid of DRS technology or a third umpire.
In three of these games, there were incorrect stumpings and run-outs that could have been easily corrected with the presence of a third umpire. Notably, there was a crucial “not out” decision in favor of Hobart Hurricanes’ Lizelle Lee, which went against the Sydney Thunder and proved to be a game-changer.
Cricket Australia has acknowledged the concerns and announced their intention to introduce third umpires for every game in the next season. However, no changes will be made during the ongoing season.
Although the Renegades have not been adversely affected by incorrect stumping or run-out calls, they believe that some LBW and caught-behind decisions have gone against them in closely contested matches that could have been overturned with the inclusion of DRS technology.
Georgia Wareham, speaking on behalf of the Renegades, expressed her frustration with the current state of affairs, emphasizing the significant impact these decisions have on the game’s outcome. She emphasized that these pivotal moments can shape the trajectory of a match and potentially alter the final result. Wareham stressed the importance of getting these decisions right and expressed hope for positive changes, acknowledging that the ultimate decision lies with the governing authorities.
“I think as a playing group it’s pretty frustrating, knowing that those moments in the game are really massive,” Wareham said on Tuesday. “And that it’s sort of changing the way that teams are winning, I guess, and what team wins on the day by those moments.
“I think that’s what’s really frustrating when we can’t quite get those decisions right. But I mean, at the end of the day, you can’t do much out there. So I guess it’s up to the big dogs at the end.”
Hayley Matthews, with her extensive experience in the WBBL, highlighted the necessity of implementing DRS in all games for the tournament to maintain its status as the world’s premier women’s T20 franchise competition. She cited the global trend of franchise leagues incorporating DRS and third umpires, emphasizing the need for the WBBL to follow suit. Matthews believes that introducing these advancements would elevate the overall standard of the game and solidify the WBBL’s reputation as a leader in women’s cricket.
“We’re obviously seeing all over the world now, in all the franchise competitions you’ve got DRS, third umpire, and full broadcasts in every single game being played. I think WBBL has been the leading tournament for quite some years and it’s the ninth season in. I think I’d love to see it being implemented now and I think that on its own would help raise the standard of the game even more.
Despite their frustrations, Renegades’ captain stressed the importance of focusing on factors within their control for the remainder of the season. Matthews encouraged her team to concentrate on their individual performances and use their bats to make an impact, rather than dwelling on external factors that cannot be changed.
“I think you’ve just got to try to control the controllables,” Matthews said. “If we sit and kind of stress about all the things that we aren’t able to control, I think it’s just going to make us more frustrated at the end of the day. So as batters, try to use our bat as much as possible.”
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