Technology, where it all began

Nearly 30 years ago, an accountant in Sri Lanka, Mahinda Wijesinghe, made one of the earliest calls for video replays to assist the umpires at a time when technology in cricket was still in its infancy. His suggestion to the ICC were rejected. In The National, Osman Samiuddin chronicles the history of technology in cricket from the 1990s.

Three months later, in the New Year's Ashes Test at Sydney, arrived the first of many false tipping points. John Dyson was run out by Bob Willis off his own bowling in the match's first over, by at least 18 inches, the Wisden Almanack recorded. Except he was not, because Mel Johnson, the square leg umpire, did not think so. Dyson made a five-hour 79 in a game that was ultimately drawn, allowing Australia to regain the Ashes.