The first second thought

I don't think I like reviews (for now). Something about the whole business of watching Benson raise the finger for a caught behind off Zaheer (Dilshan was the bat), the batsmen appeal, and then the mortified expression on Benson's face as it was turned down, just felt very, very odd (it made the game feel like a weekend hitout where batsmen are allowed to complain if they feel like batting longer). Perhaps I'll get used to it in the days to come. It was interesting too, just how difficult the decision was for the third umpire and in the end, I think he got it wrong. There was a wooden sound and the ball deviated slightly upward as it passed the bat. Dilshan appealed the decision and I think he might have been suckered by the fact that if the ball nicks the bat as the bat hits the ground, the shock transmitted up the handle can disguise the feeling of the nick (I once gave out a team-mate in a match and he complained to me afterward that he hadn't edged it; in his case too, the bat had made contact with the ground as it made contact with the ball). Of course, Benson could have held on to his decision but he chose not to. (Of course, I fail to understand how the on-field umpires decision could have been reversed with such inconclusive evidence.)

All in all, the first review of an umpiring decision doesn't seem to have worked out so well (except for Dilshan). Ah, well. Lets see how things pan out.