“The captain may consult with the bowler and other fielders or the two batsmen may consult with each other prior to deciding whether to request a Player Review. However, in order to meet the requirement of (b) above, such consultation will need to occur almost instantly and be very brief. Under no circumstances is any player permitted to query an umpire about any aspect of a decision before deciding on whether or not to request a Player Review. If the umpires believe that the captain or batsman has received direct or indirect input emanating other than from the players on the field, then they may at their discretion decline the request for a Player Review. In particular, signals from the dressing room must not be given.”
The above is the protocol for requesting reviews. Sri Lankan allrounder Dilruwan Perera appears to have violated that protocol when he asked the umpire to refer his LBW decision for review. He appeared to be on his way to the pavilion when he suddenly turned around and made the request to the umpire. The decision was overturned. Dilruwan went on to add 43 for the eighth wicket with Rangana Herath, a very important contribution to Sri Lanka’s eventual 294.
Though the batsman and the Sri Lankan team has disputed this, Dilruwan seemed to have been urged by his dressing room to ask for the review. “Contrary to the assumptions made,” read a statement from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), there was no ‘message from the dressing room’ involved in the requested review.
“Having mistakenly assumed that Sri Lanka were out of reviews, Dilruwan Perera had turned to leave the field when he heard Rangana Herath inquire from the on-field umpire Nigel Llong if Sri Lanka have any reviews left, to which Mr Llong answered in the affirmative.
“It was then that Dilruwan requested the review.”
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