Heather Knight said the decision not to deploy a decision review system was a sign of the status of women’s Test cricket following England’s emphatic win over South Africa.
Knight led England to their first Test win since 2014 when the tourists bowled out South Africa for just 64 on day three in Bloemfontein to secure a comprehensive 286-run victory.
The absence of DRS did not affect the result as England bowled out the Proteas’ second innings in 19.4 overs, but it played a role in the gulf between the two sides as South Africa finished with a succession of questionable decisions.
It called into question the South African Cricket Board’s decision not to spend $48,500 (£38,100) to adopt the technology, and Knight raised his concerns.
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Lauren Bell and Tammy Beaumont combine to see off Annery Derksen after England’s third umpire’s stoppage time against South Africa.
“I was pretty shocked when I found out at the referee’s meeting the other day that we weren’t going to have it,” Knight said. “I think it’s a real shame.
“You expect that now as a player and I guess the reason is always money. But, especially in Test cricket where wickets are at 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 that, which is a bit disappointing.”
The lack of DRS in this match was once again the talk of the town when Anneri Derksen (9) was dismissed at short leg by the third umpire despite the lack of UltraEdge technology to prove he 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 probably saved England’s Tammy Beaumont from being dismissed by South Africa’s Marizan Kapp for the first time.
Derksen’s controversial decision contributed to South Africa’s historic collapse as they slumped to their lowest ever score in a women’s Test match.
“We all thought it was a strike and obviously the umpire delayed the decision,” Knight added. so I’m not really sure what happened there.”
South African head coach Mandla Mashimba expressed similar bewilderment about the process that led to Derksen’s dismissal.
“There was no contact, I didn’t understand why either,” he said. “It was quite strange. But the referees feel they made the right decision and we can’t go against it.”
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South Africa’s Mlaba doesn’t put his bat down after Lauren Bell’s direct hit to seal a 286-run victory for England.
Speaking after the second day’s stumps, South African all-rounder Marizan Kapp said she prefers the use of DRS in short-form cricket over Tests.
“I don’t believe we’ve had it available (before) for T20s and ODI cricket,” Kapp said. “So it’s really helped in the ODI and T20 series.
“If I’m being completely honest, I’d probably prefer to have it in those two formats.
“We’re probably disappointed that we were on the wrong side, but it goes both ways. Even in the ODIs, there were one or two decisions that England reviewed that went our way.
“It’s just a game, it’s never easy for referees, although you do get kind of upset when it doesn’t go your way.”
England v South Africa – full schedule
T20 series (England won 3-0)
ODI series (England won 2-1)
One-time test
- Bloemfontein – England won by 286 runs
