ICC Cricket World Cup, 2015 Countdown #30 - India fume over DRS after Ian Bell's controversial non-dismissal

India have never been a fan of the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS). They have always demanded accuracy of close to 100% as more often than not, reviews have worked against them. One such instance, which convinced the Indian team not to trust the UDRS, happened during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in the match against England in Bangalore.

A cracking hundred by Sachin Tendulkar and useful half-centuries from Gautam Gambhir and Yuvraj Singh helped India post a commanding total of 338. However, no total is safe enough considering the boundary size at the Chinnaswamy stadium, and the Indian bowlers were sent on a leather hunt when Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell were going great guns and put on a terrific partnership to help England inch closer.

However, the 3rd wicket stand, worth 170 runs, would have come to an end when Bell was on 17 - the stand was worth 52 at that stage. Yuvraj Singh bowled one straight on the stumps in the 25th over and Bell, looking for a cheeky paddle sweep, missed the ball and was rapped on the pads. Umpire Billy Bowden reckoned that the batsman was safe but India had a review available and they made use of it.

According to television replays, the ball pitched in line, the impact was in line and the ball was going on to hit the stumps. All those at the ground, who witnessed the scene playing out on the big screen, were cheering and broke into celebration even before third umpire Aleem Dar could give his final verdict. Much to their disappointment, and to the dismay of the Indian cricketers, the decision remained with the on-field umpire's call.

Reason: When he was struck on the pad, Bell was more than 2.5 metres down the pitch. According to DRS rules, if the distance from the stumps and the impact of the ball is greater than 2.5 metres, the decision remains with the on-field umpire.

Bell went on to make 69 runs, and although India managed to sneak in a few quick wickets, the match ended in a thrilling tie. Needing two off the final delivery, Graeme Swann took a single off Munaf Patel and England finished with 338.

After the match, a disappointed Indian skipper MS Dhoni said the 2.5 metre rule was 'an adulteration of human decision-making and technology'. Bell, on his part, admitted that he did not even know about the existence of such a rule. "I didn't even know that such a rule existed. As soon as I saw it pitch in line and hit, I thought that was enough. It's strange, to be honest with you, if you see Hawk-eye saying it's going to hit the stumps. It's a little bit strange. But that's the rule, I guess, and we're not going to be able to change that for this World Cup."