Cricket DRS rules can look complicated during a close match, especially when a decision is upheld, overturned or described as umpire’s call. This guide explains the review workflow, what ball tracking and edge detection show, how review limits work, and how to follow each decision through a live score or match centre.
Overview
The Decision Review System, usually called DRS, gives teams a formal way to challenge certain on-field decisions. It does not replace the on-field umpires or guarantee a perfect answer in every situation. Instead, the third umpire reviews the available evidence under the playing conditions for that competition and recommends whether the original decision should remain or change.
A DRS decision normally ends in one of three ways. It may be upheld, meaning the on-field decision stays in place. It may be overturned, meaning the evidence supports a different decision. Or it may remain as umpire’s call, where the technology shows that the original decision falls within the accepted margin used by the review system. In that situation, the on-field umpire’s decision stands.
DRS is most commonly associated with leg-before-wicket and caught decisions, but the exact scope depends on the format, competition and current playing conditions. A live score may display a short label such as “review retained,” “decision stands” or “umpire’s call,” but the label should be read alongside the type of decision and the applicable rules.
For broader context on differences between formats, see our guide to Test, ODI and T20 cricket rules. The number of reviews, how they are replenished, and which reviews count can vary, so a general explanation should not be treated as a substitute for the competition’s regulations.
What to track
The review workflow
- An on-field decision is made. The umpire gives a decision, such as out or not out. The relevant team must decide whether the decision is worth challenging.
- The review is requested. The captain or eligible batter signals for a review within the permitted time. A team cannot normally wait indefinitely while discussing the incident.
- The third umpire checks the review’s validity. The review process first establishes whether the incident can be reviewed and whether the request followed the required procedure.
- The evidence is examined. Replays, sound-based edge detection, ball tracking and other approved technology may be used, depending on the incident.
- The evidence is communicated. The third umpire explains the findings to the on-field umpire, who announces the final decision and updates the match state.
What each technology can and cannot show
| Review element | What it examines | How to read the result |
|---|---|---|
| Ball tracking | The projected path of the ball, including pitching, impact and the likely path towards the stumps. | It supports an lbw decision, but the displayed result is assessed within the system’s accepted decision zones and the competition’s review protocol. |
| Edge detection | Whether the ball appears to have made contact with the bat or glove before reaching the wicketkeeper or fielder. | Audio and video evidence are considered together. A spike or sound is not automatically conclusive without checking timing and the images. |
| Impact assessment | Where the ball struck the batter in relation to the stumps and the conditions for an lbw decision. | The impact result must be interpreted with the ball’s pitching and projected path, as well as the relevant laws. |
| Umpire’s call | Whether the technology result lies within the margin in which the original on-field decision is protected. | The original decision stands. The review outcome is not the same as a fully overturned decision. |
Review limits and match information
During a live match, track four details: which team requested the review, what incident was reviewed, whether the decision changed, and how many reviews remain. Review allowances are commonly set for an innings or a defined match phase, but the exact number and reset rules are competition-specific. Some competitions also have separate procedures for certain technical checks or automatically reviewed events.
Do not assume that an unsuccessful review always has the same consequence everywhere. In particular, playing conditions may define how an umpire’s-call result affects the team’s remaining reviews. A reliable match centre should show the current review count, while the tournament’s playing conditions provide the final authority.
Cadence and checkpoints
DRS is best followed as a sequence rather than as a single headline. At the start of a match, check the competition format, whether DRS is available, and the review allowance stated in the match information. If a live score provides a rules or match-details panel, use it before interpreting the first review.
At every review, note the following checkpoint:
- the score, over and batter or bowler involved;
- the original on-field decision;
- the reason for the review, such as lbw or caught behind;
- the technology used, including ball tracking or edge detection;
- the final wording: upheld, overturned or umpire’s call;
- the team’s remaining review count after the decision.
After a major turning point, compare the live commentary with the scorecard. Commentary may explain the sequence in real time, while the scorecard confirms whether the wicket, delivery and score have been recorded correctly. Our cricket commentary glossary can help decode terms used during a review.
For editorial tracking, review DRS terminology and competition rules monthly or quarterly, and again before a major series or tournament. This is particularly important when a governing body or domestic competition changes its playing conditions, technology provider, review allowance or terminology.
How to interpret changes
An overturned decision is the clearest technology-led change: the original call is replaced after the evidence meets the required standard. An upheld decision means the review did not provide enough evidence to change the call, which is not always the same as proving that every part of the original decision was visually obvious.
Umpire’s call needs the most care. It does not mean the technology failed or that the review was ignored. It means the result sits within the review system’s defined margin and the original on-field judgment receives priority. For an lbw review, this can occur when the projected ball path is close to a relevant boundary. The exact displayed zones and terminology should be read according to the current protocol.
When assessing a contentious decision, separate three questions: What did the umpire originally decide? What did each technology show? What does the playing condition say happens when the result is marginal? This prevents a common mistake: treating any visible contact, tracking image or audio spike as a complete decision on its own.
Also distinguish a review outcome from a match result. A retained review may still change the pressure of an over, but it does not automatically prove that a team used its review badly. Teams make decisions with incomplete information, and the value of a review depends on the match situation, the batter or bowler involved, and the remaining allowance.
When to revisit
Return to this guide whenever a close review appears in today’s match, but use a simple checklist before drawing conclusions:
- Confirm the competition and format.
- Check the current review allowance and remaining reviews in the match centre.
- Identify the original decision before watching the technology result.
- Separate ball tracking, edge detection and impact evidence.
- Look for the words “umpire’s call” rather than assuming every marginal result is overturned.
- Verify the final scorecard entry after the review is completed.
Editors should refresh this article when official playing conditions, review limits, technology terminology or format-specific procedures change. Readers should revisit it at the beginning of each series, tournament or domestic season, then use it as a live-match reference when a review becomes decisive. For related match-centre reading, see our guides to reading a cricket scorecard and finding today’s cricket matches.
