Ed Cowan may have spent hours patiently seeing off Indias attack as he crafted a half-century on debut but was quickly on the front foot after stumps,calling for a uniform approach towards the Decision Review System. The outspoken 29-year-old opener said the lack of replay technology cost him and Mike Hussey their wickets,and the team their momentum,as Australia were confined to 277/6 at the end of the opening day of the first Test. You saw the replays,you saw my reaction,you join the dots I guess, he told reporters. He was adjudged caught behind off R Ashwin on 68. Hussey,with his place in the team under threat,had also walked off looking disgusted after umpire Marias Erasmus ruled him caught behind for a duck off Zaheer Khan,as television replays indicated the ball had hit his shoulder. Australia could not challenge the decision because DRS is not being used in this series after the Indian cricket board raised concerns over its accuracy. As someone who loves their cricket and has watched a lot of cricket,I cant understand why it (DRS) cant be handed down by the ICC (International Cricket Council) to be uniform at all games. And thats me speaking as an outsider,not as someone who has been in the bubble for a long time, he said. Double whammy Khan (2-49) had bowled Australia captain Michael Clarke for 31 off the previous ball,and Husseys dismissal allowed India to take the initiative from the home side at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. It was a massive moment in the game, said Cowan,who marked his test debut by top-scoring on the first day and shared a 113-run partnership with Ricky Ponting. Wed had a 100-run partnership,wrestled back momentum,then almost a 50-run partnership (with Clarke). We felt we were half an hour away from really nailing them and grinding them into the dust, he said. Cowans wicket was the third to fall in just 19 deliveries as Australia slid from 205/3 to 214 It doesnt matter what game of cricket you play in,umpiring decisions always change the momentum of the game, Cowan said. It doesnt matter if its an MCG Test match or me playing club cricket,thats the game. We all accept that. Today momentum went against us because of it. But thats the game,well take the good with the bad, he said. Although disappointed,Cowan was also philosophical,saying he thought the ledger of umpiring decisions would level for both teams. Today momentum went against us because of it. But well take the good with the bad.
