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Australia back DRS process amid errors

Australia insist their process for referring decisions is the right one despite costing themselves upwards of 80 runs by running out of them against Sri Lanka.

DINESH CHANDIMAL
DINESH CHANDIMAL Picture: Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

Andrew McDonald maintains Australia's process for referrals is the right one despite being burnt badly by the review system against Sri Lanka.

Australia should have had Dinesh Chandimal caught behind on 31 on Sunday, only to have no reviews left when he edged a ball behind to Alex Carey.

Chandimal went on to be 118no at stumps, as Sri Lanka finished day three of the second and final Test at 6-431 in reply to Australia's 364.

The lack of referral also threatened to hurt Australia even more, after Angelo Mathews survived an lbw appeal moments earlier that would have been overturned on review

Australia were at least able to rid of the veteran just one over later.

But still, the tourists have been left to rue the one review they used on Saturday afternoon and two they lost two in the space of three overs on Sunday morning.

While one was for a tight Nathan Lyon lbw appeal, the other two came when Pat Cummins thought a ball had been gloved down legside and Travis Head thought Chandimal had nicked a ball to him at silly mid-off.

Reviews have long been a problem for Australia but they have become more successful in their use of the DRS in recent years, under a clear system of consulting fielders in certain positions when making calls.

And McDonald said the right process had been followed in Galle.

"There was enough evidence to suggest they were close," Australia's coach said.

"Like anything, the umpires are sometimes unsure and we're sometimes unsure. That happens and that played out on the back of us using our reviews.

"No-one's perfect and you're not always going to get them right. But the process we went through is the most important thing for us.

"And we'll continue to go through those processes to make those decisions."

Australia's missed reviews came on the same day three chances were missed behind the stump, with Alex Carey failing to convert any of the stumping opportunities.

While Carey missed a tough chance with Chandimal on 10, he should have had debutant Kamindu Mendis stumped on 43 before he added 18 more to his score.

Bowling allrounder Ramesh Mendis was also missed late in the day from a Mitchell Swepson ball down legside.

But Australia insist there is still hope left for them to win the match and claim the series 2-0, desperate to keep Sri Lanka's lead to 100 or less early on day four.

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