Ashes 2019: Dejected Tim Paine Reviews DRS Process

Australia failed to register a win in the third Ashes Test against England where all-rounder Ben Stokes played a match-winning knock. In the process, he took his side to the finish line to level the series. Despite getting chances, Australia failed to utilise them when Nathan Lyon missed a run-out opportunity. To make matters worse, Tim Paine wasted their last review on a leg-side lbw appeal against Jack Leach

As a result, Australia had no review left and they failed to take the review of a leg before of Nathan Lyon who trapped Ben Stokes before the stumps. England won the nail-biting game by one wicket.

“We’re trying our best to come up with a system that’s better,” Tim Paine told Melbourne radio station SEN. “And we can, I suppose, gather information on what different people are seeing on the field at the time and in that 15 seconds try to make a better decision than what we have been doing, but it’s a little bit of trial and error.”

The wasted review was one of the turning points of the game alongside the missed dismissal chances.

“Losses like that can wear groups down and break groups apart,” he said. “Really proud of the fact we’ve moved on quickly. We certainly didn’t paper over the cracks. We know we made some pretty obvious mistakes particularly in that last hour. We’ve had some pretty honest chats about that.”

Having been handed a lifeline, Ben Stokes took the opportunity with both hands and made Australia regret it. He literally smashed Australia’s bowling attack and it never looked like he was playing with the last wicket. Tim Paine also praised his game.

“(Stokes) can literally hit the ball anywhere he likes on the field, so when he’s in and going, he’s extremely hard to stop,” said Paine. “In the last two test matches alone, I think Nathan Lyon’s got him out about six or seven times. We’ve either dropped him or the lbws have been given not out and we haven’t referred them.”

“So, Lyon’s always had some success against him. We’ve just got to back him up and grab those chances or learn how to use the DRS a little better,” he concluded.