'Beyond comprehension': Cricket legends fume over 'horrific' Ashes farce

The Decision Review System (DRS) dominated large parts of the opening day of the first Ashes Test with differing results for England and Australia.

On another chastening day in English conditions for many of the tourists' batsmen, umpires Aleem Dar and Joel Wilson also struggled.

Dar gave David Warner an early life from the very first ball the opener faced after he failed to spot the faintest of edges to a Stuart Broad delivery that was pouched by Jonny Bairstow.

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England opted not to review the decision but did so from the first ball of Broad's second over, only to burn it when footage showed the delivery would have gone over the stumps.

It was a rare triumph for Dar, who four balls later gave Warner out lbw when the ball was spearing down the leg side.

But surprisingly the New South Welshman, who had little consultation with opening partner Cameron Bancroft, walked back to the pavilion without reviewing the decision.

England went upstairs again to third umpire Chris Gaffney to dismiss Usman Khawaja after the left-hander's edge behind off Chris Woakes was missed by Dar.

Travis Head's departure was also confirmed by DRS with the South Australian skipper convinced another Woakes delivery was too high, only for Gaffney to uphold Dar's on-field decision.

The great shame is that umpiring may continue to have an outsized say because the ICC does not allow the best umpires, such as Richard Kettleborough, officiate against their own nation – seven of the 12 members of the elite panel are ineligible.

Wilson, who will also stand in the third Test, was only promoted to the pool this week, while fourth Test umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge has not yet been considered after standing in just three Tests to date.

The farcical scenes angered the cricket fraternity, with numerous former players furious to see it overshadow the first Test:

Matthew Wade's luck was also out after he was initially reprieved by Wilson following a huge leg before appeal by Broad.

However, Gaffney was forced to overturn the decision with footage showing he was trapped plumb in front of the stumps, and departed with just a run to his name.

Australia breathed a huge sigh of relief when Steve Smith, who went on to score 144, successfully overturned an lbw decision by Dar when he appeared to be trapped on the back foot playing no shot when he was on 34.

James Pattinson, who was dismissed for a second-ball duck for lbw by Broad, would have been reprieved had he reviewed, after footage showed the delivery would have missed the stumps.

Peter Siddle had no hesitation in making the T-sign with his bat after being given out when the outstanding Broad thudded the ball into his pads.

Dar's awful day continued as it was revealed he had failed to see a huge inside edge from the Victorian and was forced to change his decision.

His difficult afternoon then took another turn for the worse in the final hour of play when he was stung by a wasp.

with AAP