ICC enact WCC's technology idea
Date released: 18 June 2008
The International Cricket Council (ICC) have announced a trial of a new umpire review system, as suggested by the MCC World Cricket Committee (WCC) back in October.
The World Cricket Committee The ICC's trial will take place during the Sri Lanka v India Test series in Sri Lanka - starting on 23 July with the Test in Colombo.
Back in October the MCC World Cricket Committee heard presentations from experts in television and other technologies and how they could be used in cricket.
The WCC then gave its backing to the use of technology in cricket. This decision was supported by MCC who offered to assist with the increased costs of a trial of the technologies.
Furthermore, as suggested by the WCC, technologies such as snick-detection (referred to as 'Snicko' on Sky TV coverage) and the 'Hot-Spot' technologies will not be used in the ICC trial.
Sign of the times
In the ICC trial, after an umpire has given his decision the batsman or captain of the fielding side can ask for the decision to be referred to the third umpire.
Umpire Simon Taufel refers a decision at Lord's To signal the request the player must make a 'T' symbol with his arms.
The third umpire will then review TV replays and consult with the onfield umpire who will deliver the decision: the traditional raised finger for 'out'; or crossing his hands three times, at waist height for a 'safe' decision - much like the similar signal is baseball.
Each team will be allowed three unsuccessful appeals to the third umpire. If their appeal is correct, they retain all three appeals.
