Explain · Like I'm five version
The decision review system in cricket in terms of a supermarket price check
Have you ever seen a cricket player stop the game because they think the umpire made a mistake, just like when your mum asks for a price check at the shop?
When a batter thinks they are not out, they can ask for a review to see if the umpire got it wrong. It is exactly like when a tin of beans costs more at the till than the label on the shelf said. The player makes a little square shape with their hands, which is just like asking the shop assistant to go and look at the real price for you. They have to stop everything and wait for the truth to be checked.
A special person called the third umpire then watches the TV replays to see what really happened. They look at pictures from different cameras, just like the assistant checks the computer screen to see how much the beans cost. If the TV shows the ball hit the stumps, the umpire changes their mind. It is a bit like when the assistant comes back and says, actually, the beans are much cheaper today because of a secret deal.
Sometimes the technology shows a tiny, tiny touch of the ball that no one else saw. It is just like when the shop assistant finds a tiny sticker on the bottom of a toy that shows it is half price. The player who was walking away gets to stay in the game, and the fielders have to look a bit grumpy. Everyone waits for the final word, just like you wait for the beep at the till to tell you if you have enough pocket money.
Where the analogy breaks downIn cricket, you only get a few chances to ask for a review, but in a shop, you can ask about the price of everything in your trolley.