Watson to use DRS 'more sparingly' in winter Ashes due to 'unflattering success rate'

Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has admitted that he would be more careful about using the Decision Review System (DRS) in the upcoming winter Ashes series as he has 'absolutely no idea' when it comes to the referral system.

Watson, who has suffered an injury scare just 19 days before the Ashes in the final match of Australia's one-day tour of India, had sent four LBW decisions for review during the summer Ashes, which were won by England 3-0, but only once was he successful.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Watson joked that he has felt relieved not to have the DRS in place during the one-day series in India, which finished with India winning the series-decider, adding that it has made his life a 'lot easier'.

Stating that he would only send howlers to the TV umpire from now on given his unflattering success rate with challenges, Watson said that it has made him realise that he has no idea about umpiring and LBW decisions, especially the 50-50 calls, adding he has realised that an umpire has to take all emotion out of himself while making such decision.

Watson further said that umpiring is not going to be a career path for him when he retires, adding that his struggles with the DRS are underpinned by not having grown up with the system.

The DRS, which dominated the recent Ashes series in England with its faltering Hot Spot technology, will be tweaked for the rematch in Australia in the winter Ashes, although the real-time Snickometer and the Hot Spot could be used in the series, the report added.