Senaka Weeraratna Chat GPT assisted

The genesis of the player referral system in cricket, now known as the Decision Review System (DRS), can be traced back to Sri Lankan lawyer Senaka Weeraratna in 1997.

He proposed a system where players could challenge on-field umpire decisions, drawing an analogy to the appellate function of the legal system. This concept, first published in The Australian newspaper, ( March 25, 1997) was revolutionary as it challenged the long-standing principle of the umpire’s decision being final. The ICC later adopted and implemented this concept as the DRS, significantly changing how decisions are made in cricket.

Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

Early Concept (1997):
Senaka Weeraratna, then living in Darwin, Australia, proposed a system where players could refer decisions to a third umpire for review, arguing that the umpire’s decision wasn’t always accurate.

Analogous to Legal System:
Weeraratna’s concept was unique as it drew a direct parallel between cricket’s decision-making process and the legal system’s appellate structure.

Challenging the Norm:
The idea was groundbreaking because it directly questioned the umpire’s final say, a fundamental principle in cricket since its inception.

Formal Adoption (2006):
The International Cricket Council (ICC) formally adopted the concept of player referral and, after further development and testing, introduced it as the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS or DRS).

Initial Implementation (2008):
The DRS was first tested in a Test match between India and Sri Lanka in 2008.

Official Launch (2009):
The system was officially launched by the ICC in November 2009 during a Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan.

Evolution and Refinement:
The DRS has undergone several changes and refinements since its introduction, with the ICC continuing to work on improving the technology and its application. 

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