No UDRS for Sri Lanka-India Tests

The Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS) will not be used during the upcoming Test series between Sri Lanka and India. "The decision at the ICC meeting was that both the teams should agree with having the DRS system. When we checked with India, they were not happy to have it," Nishantha Ranatunga, secretary of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), told Cricinfo.

In its annual conference, the ICC had decided: "One of the decisions is that the host member would determine whether to use DRS in home Test series (following consultation with the visiting country)." It was during this consultation that Sri Lanka couldn't achieve an agreement with the visiting team, India.

The UDRS, which has courted controversy since its implementation, was first used in the 2008 series between the same teams, and immediately became a key player in the contest. The controversial and impractical Virender Sehwag dismissal aside, Sri Lanka used the challenge system way better than India, securing marginal lbw dismissals for Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis that would have otherwise needed brave umpires to call. Sri Lanka made 11 successful reviews in that 2-1 series win, as opposed to India's one.

On their return tour to India, Kumar Sangakkara lamented the absence of the UDRS. He said it cost his side "over 500 runs and a lot of wickets" during the 2-0 defeat. To add to his frustrations then, the review system was used in two simultaneous series being played elsewhere.

When asked if the absence of the review system would be a disadvantage for the home team, Ranatunga said: "Definitely it will be a disadvantage. Not only for Sri Lanka, it's a disadvantage for India as well. It's a disadvantage for all the players."

India haven't really been fans of the system, and haven't been involved in any series since then that has used the UDRS. Sachin Tendulkar had said he wasn't won over by the system, largely due to the inadequate technology that has prevented its successful implementation. The Hot Spot, he said, was a better means to establish contact between bat and ball, and ball and pad.

The host broadcasters don't use the required technology, and that could be one of the reasons why India decided not to use the UDRS. However, Ranatunga said the Indians didn't give any reasons for their choice.