`DRS fans` Clarke, Cook `confused` over Ashes umpiring howlers

Sydney: Rival Ashes captains Michael Clarke and Alastair Cook have both admitted that they are confused by the repeated controversies over the decisions made on the ground and in the television umpire`s box, that have marred the Ashes.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the final day of the drawn third Test, which handed England the Ashes urn for the third series running, saw more uproar concerning the controversial Decision Review System (DRS) after England`s Kevin Pietersen became angry after he was dismissed caught behind for eight on Monday morning. However, the report mentioned that Pietersen`s dismissal was not in the same category as the farcical circumstances that led to Usman Khawaja`s exit in Australia`s first innings after which Cricket Australia took the extraordinary step of seeking clarification from the International Cricket Council. Although he admitted that he is a `fan` of DRS, Clarke said that both the teams are confused as to why certain decisions have been overturned while some others have not been overturned, adding that the problems have been consistent for both the teams. Agreeing with Clarke, Cook also said that even though, in practice, the DRS has worked well apart from the ongoing Ashes series, both sides are mystified by some of the decisions that have gone against certain players from both teams at certain times, adding that he does not know whether the howlers have shown up as the series are the Ashes. However, Cook praised the DRS, saying that it is put there to make more decisions right, adding that hopefully the ICC can iron the issues out and bring back the technology to what it is designed for which is making more decisions correct. ANI