Umpires must step up and perform - Dhoni

MS Dhoni, India's captain, has said the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) should not be implemented unless it guarantees 100 percent accuracy, and that the on-field umpires must step up and make better decisions.

"It is not something that gives cent per cent results," Dhoni said. "It is not always correct. "If I am going to buy a life jacket which does not come with a warranty, that's a bit of a hassle for me especially with the huge amount of money you have to spend for the DRS system coming into the game."

Instead of spending so much money on a system that cannot guarantee results, Dhoni felt the umpires needed to perform better instead. "There are two gentlemen standing on the ground as umpires. They are professionals and paid to do their job. They have got support from the TV umpire. So it is surprising to see them making some of the mistakes. They have to step up and perform."

Dhoni, however, said that he would be happy to use the UDRS if it becomes foolproof. "I would prefer some kind of warranty behind it. (The) moment it comes, I am all for it. For now, they have to improve on the technology."

India have opposed the UDRS ever since their failed experiment with it during their 2008 tour of Sri Lanka. The Indians struggled with their referral and got only one right, while Sri Lanka successfully challenged 11 decisions.

Sachin Tendulkar has opposed the UDRS in the past, and last month Dravid made statements along the same lines as Dhoni. "If it can be proved that technology is foolproof there is no harm in it," Dravid said. "There is a lot of ambiguity as to what kind of technology is available. In some series, you don't get the same cameras, slow motion cameras and other equipment, and that's the sort of thing which creates ambiguity. If we can have a common sort of system in every series, I see no reason why we cannot have it."

The technology has found support from one big Indian star though. "I am a big fan of UDRS," Virender Sehwag said last week. "I want it to be there for the India-New Zealand series, India-South Africa series and in the World Cup. But this is my personal opinion. I was given out a few times when I was not out and in such a situation could have gone in for a referral that would have helped me continue to bat."