FORMER international cricket umpire Roy Palmer has criticised the introduction of the Decision Review System (DRS) to the game.

The DRS allows batsmen and bowlers to challenge an on-field umpire's decision and have it reviewed by the third umpire, using television replays and technology such as Hawk-Eye and Hot Spot.

Palmer (pictured), 69, who lives in Combe Martin, umpired two Test matches in the early 1990s and more than 400 first-class games from 1979 to 2007.

He feels umpires are being undermined by the system.

He said: "What do I think of the DRS? I can't believe that cricket has gone that way.

"How can you umpire when you give a decision out and then they refer it and suddenly it's the wrong decision?

"You only need two or three of them – and you can get them easily – then all of a sudden the players are going to say, 'He can't get anything right'. Before, those close ones would even themselves out. You might give a bloke out somewhere or other but he'll get away with it another time."

In today's Journal, Roy Palmer recalls how he became embroiled in an international incident 20 years ago: page 88.