"The technology is there to be used but we need to make sure it's of the highest standard because it's people's careers and livelihoods you are messing with. "
Saturday 6 January 2018 17:40, UK
Jonny Bairstow has expressed his frustration with the DRS system, saying it is "messing" with people's careers and livelihoods after another difficult day for England at the SCG.
On a day when just two wickets fell as Australia built a lead of 133, Mason Crane had a DRS lbw ruled out for a marginal but apparently correct no-ball call, while an lbw appeal verdict against Mitchell Marsh was later overturned when third umpire Sundaram Ravi cited an indistinct inside-edge.
The ball was depicted going on to miss leg-stump anyway, so the correct decision was still reached but in the wrong way, and it was a decision that left England frustrated.
"When it comes to all the technology it's important that moving forward for all the teams there's real clarity on the actual process and how the review system works," Bairstow said.
"That's getting HawkEye matching up to the TV images, getting snicko right, because it can pick up moving feet and people scratching around the crease and other stuff. We know Hotspot doesn't pick up every edge because otherwise you'd just use it all the way through.
"We are aware there are two different systems in place around the world and it's about making sure there is clarity on how those systems work for us as players out in the middle," he added.
"When you see the spike on the graph and one system is allowed one frame before but the other system has one frame after, and you don't know which system is in place, that can be very frustrating especially when you are toiling very hard for a long period of time. That's all we want as players.
"The technology is there to be used but we need to make sure it's of the highest standard because it's people's careers and livelihoods you are messing with. It is a frustration not knowing the exact rulings and how it's used."
Joe Root's men managed just two wickets on day three of the final Ashes Test at the SCG - a maiden success for debutant Crane and just a fourth wicket of the winter for fellow spinner Moeen Ali - as Usman Khawaja (171) and Shaun Marsh (98no) took the game away from them.
There were also half-centuries for Steve Smith (83) and Mitch Marsh (63no) as the hosts closed on an ominous 479-4, with a lead of 133.
England therefore face a huge test of their resilience if they are to avoid another defeat and a 4-0 series scoreline, but Bairstow believes England can be proud of their efforts on another difficult day for the tourists.
"It was a pretty tough day," said Bairstow, whose stumping completed Crane's first wicket - that of Khawaja, after his eight-and-a-half-hour innings.
"The way the guys toiled hard was impressive. It's good to see."
Bairstow described the bowling of England's two spinners as "superb", with Moeen Ali "outstanding", despite him and Crane recording combined figures of 2-260.
"We just needed a few more to go to hand really," added the wicketkeeper. "When the ball is turning ... you can get one that carries to slip, a nick on to the thigh pad that goes to short-leg.
"You can break the ifs and buts down so many ways. "We are not a side that go about saying this and that - but it didn't go our way. That's not the nature of the people playing, we are very proud."
Meanwhile, Khawaja had absolutely no cause for regret after his maiden Ashes hundred - although, at what was once his home ground, he did eventually fall three runs short of his career-best.
"It's awesome," he said. "The SCG was where I grew up playing cricket for New South Wales, and an Ashes century is something I've wanted for a long time and haven't been able to achieve.
"So this is very satisfying, and a really good feeling."
