So, Cricket's much anticipated referral system got underway today in the first Test of the ongoing Sri Lanka - India series.

In summary...both the batsman and the captain of the fielding side are allowed to ask for a referral (aka challenge, review). Each team gets three unsuccessful challenges per innings (there is no limit on successful challenges). The third umpire looks at a few replays to determine whether there is enough to overturn the on-field umpire's decision. Use of Hawkeye or anything like that is not allowed (which is fine).

There were three referrals done today, with the second one a perfect example of why referrals are a great idea:

45.4: Harbhajan to Warnapura. LBW appeal turned down by on-field umpire. Kumble refers to third umpire, who agrees with on-field umpire's decision. Challenge was unsuccessful.

105.3: Zaheer to Dilshan. Dilshan given out caught behind. Dilshan challenges it. Third umpire overrules on-field umpire's decision! Challenge was successful.

119.1: Harbhajan to Dilshan. LBW appeal turned down by on-field umpire. Kumble refers to third umpire, who agrees with on-field umpire's decision. Challenge was unsuccessful.

Of course, there are innumerable pros which are fairly obvious. But I'll mention a couple of potential issues I see with this system...first, there is the time delay factor - how much will this referral system impact a sport that is already so pressed for time (yes, even five days aren't enough! ;-). Second, what is the time limit to challenge a decision? You want to avoid pavilion involvement, i.e. you don't want the supporting cast to see a replay and then signal accordingly to the on-field players. As long as a player decides to challenge within 10-15 seconds, it should be ok.

Overall though, a great idea, and a much-needed relief for players, umpires, and fans. This cricket fan, for one, is extremely excited. Let's hear it for Technology! And, we all take our shots at them all the time, so let's give them a rare moment of appreciation...kudos to you, ICC, for pressing on with this system despite less than welcoming attitudes from many in the cricketing world, and a failed trial in domestic cricket.

A big day of cricket is about to begin. As India take on Sri Lanka in the first test, the eyes of the cricket world will be on the trial of the new referral system (Tendulkar's potential record-breaking innings notwithstanding).

I, for one, am very much in favour of the system. Cricket has been at the forefront of technology - from replays for runouts, to Duckworth-Lewis. So why not take the next logical step, especially when it's fairly easy to do so?

Per the system, there will be three referrals per team per innings = 24 potential referrals per match. Now that could mean a lot of time dedicated to referrals, but we'll have to wait to see whether teams actually take advantage of the system.

Many sports have headed the direction of replays. Tennis, NFL, etc. Baseball is planning to get replays as well. Football/soccer definitely should have it to, at least for goals that were declared offside.

Here are some interesting comments regarding the cricket referral system, some favorable, others more skeptical.

I do wonder who will be the first referred dismissal (or non-dismissal). Could it be Sachin Tendulkar, the man who was the first player to be given run-out by a TV umpire?

Like any new system, there will be success and failure, and the system will adapt over time. So let's accept any failures as a learning process, and cherish the successes as a much needed step in the right direction.

To referrals...cheers!

There has been a lot of talk about how India will displace Australia as the next Super Power in the world of cricket.

I have also said a number of times that India is one of the strongest cricket sides in the world today, despite the fact that they recently lost 2 ODI finals.

After going through their squad for the test series against Sri Lanka, something struck me.

For India to displace Australia from the top, or for even to be one of the strongest sides in the world, they will have to take a leaf out of Australia's books.

Playing Test cricket and ODI cricket with a different set of players, and even a different set of captains.

India is going through a time where:

Their 4 best batsmen don't play ODI cricket. Well Sachin does, but he's opted out lately, while Ganguly, Dravid, and Laxman haven't let their desire to play ODIs remain a secret.

Their best ODI batsman and vice captain has just been dropped from the test side. Everybody knows how eager Yuvraj is to prove his worth in tests.

Their test captain does not play ODI cricket.

Their ODI captain has just stated his preference and chosen ODIs over tests.

Their newly announced Vice Captain for the test matches will play ODIs under a different captain and vice captain.

Now if all that does not mean treading on the path to Danger Zone, I don't know what does.

There is no doubt that India has one of the strongest sides in cricket today, for both tests and ODIs, but if they are to remain one, their test cricketers and ODI cricketers will have to gel well and adapt to playing under different captains, and with different players.

Australia has done that for a decade now.

I'm not sure if India will be able to.

The Seniors vs Juniors debate has done the rounds for almost a year now with Dhoni, Yuvraj, Uthappa, Ganguly, Kumble all giving voice to it.

Sehwag, who besides Sachin, is the only connection between India's test and ODI batsmen has reportedly been at loggerheads with Dhoni.

So if this is any indication for what is to come, the future could be quite destructive.

Rohit Sharma may not get a test match, but say he does, and say he scores a debut 100 and shows the world his mettle and attitude and what not in test cricket.

How would Yuvraj feel about that?

If this was Pakistan, I can say for sure that there would have been more than one incident of a player hitting another with a bat.

Is India over and above all this?

Will they self destruct like Pakistan would have in such a situation or will they follow Australia's example?

Time will tell.

No matter what the situation, the times ahead sure are interesting for Indian cricket.

Dhoni opted out of the test series against Sri Lanka, and the BCCI accepted.

No big deal really.

Dhoni was tired, he had played too much cricket - the 20-20 world cup, ODIs against Australia, Tests and ODIs against Pakistan, tests against Australia, the CB series, the IPL, the Kitply Cup, the Asia Cup - its been non stop for Dhoni for a long time now.

Wicketkeeping, batting, captaincy, dune buggying, he'd been doing it all.

So he deserves a break. He definitely does. And he's got it.

I have one worry though.

The fact that he's opted out of the tests and not the ODIs and the fact that he played through the IPL, despite not wicketkeeping due to injury, will bring out the knives from all those critics, players, former players, journalists, and everyone else who have been going on about how players in the future will cut short their careers to play in these 20-20 leagues.

There are many arguements here about how players will skip tests to play in the more financially lucrative 20-20 leagues.

One argument is that Dhoni knew what the schedule was going to be like for the year - he could have sat out the IPL.

Its not a worry to me though. Its Dhoni's choice. He's doing what he wants to do. He's too valuable to India, so he can do what he wants to do.

But shouldn't he be opting out of the ODIs? I'm not saying that, others are.

Well definitely not. He's the ODI captain after all. How can he give that seat to anyone else. He needs to marshall that ship.

As of how things stand today, Dhoni is a more vital cog in the ODI scheme things for India than he is for the tests.

So its fine really. Its not the end of the world.

Maybe he's telling the world that his priorities lie with ODIs and 20-20 and not tests.

Thats also fine, why is that a problem?

He doesn't want to play test cricket. Many players don't. There's nothing wrong with that is there?

Its the free market. Players will pick and choose what they want to play.

Let them!