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The one-off Test between South Africa and England in Bloemfontein—the first women’s Test match in South Africa in 22 years—will proceed without the Decision Review System (DRS). This will be the only international match out of the 21 played by South African men’s and women’s teams this summer to not feature the technology.
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CSA Prioritizes White-Ball Cricket for DRS
South Africa’s cricket governing body, Cricket South Africa (CSA), has explained its decision to prioritize DRS usage for white-ball matches during the ongoing tour.
“The inclusion of the DRS for the ongoing inbound tour against England was agreed upon at the planning stage of the tour, noting that it will be the first time it was used for women’s bilateral tours in South Africa in recent history,” said Enoch Nkwe, CSA’s director of national teams and high performance.
Nkwe emphasized that DRS was prioritized for T20Is and ODIs due to their impact on South Africa’s rankings in the ICC Women’s Championship and T20I standings.
“While the development of the red-ball format is important, it is worth noting that resources are currently being directed at the white-ball formats due to the significance of ODI and T20I cricket in the current women’s international cricket landscape,” Nkwe added.
Financial Constraints and Production Challenges
Although CSA reported a profit of $45.6 million in the last financial year, they have cited the high cost of DRS—amounting to millions of dollars—as a key factor in its exclusion from the Test match. The decision was further influenced by financial constraints in a season where India men’s T20I series was the only profitable tour.
The Test will be broadcast on a reduced budget, featuring only:
- Seven manned cameras (compared to the standard 30).
- Two run-out cameras on one side of the field (instead of the usual four).
This minimal setup may limit the accuracy of run-out decisions if a fielder obstructs the camera angle.
Historic Test With Limited Resources
The absence of DRS adds another layer of complexity to the Test, which already marks a significant milestone in women’s cricket. On-field umpires Kerrin Klaaste and Lauren Agenbag will be officiating a Test match for the first time.
DRS, which has become a standard in international cricket, has often been omitted from women’s matches and certain ICC events. For example, DRS was unavailable during:
- This year’s Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers in the UAE.
- The Ireland Women’s tour of Bangladesh.
- The initial stages of the men’s ODI World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
Context and Criticism
The lack of DRS for the Test has sparked criticism, given its importance as a historic event for South African women’s cricket. Some argue that the omission reflects broader inequities in how resources are allocated between men’s and women’s cricket.
Despite these challenges, the match will be a pivotal moment for South Africa’s women’s cricket team, which is striving to raise its profile in the international arena.
