Harper 'blameless' for missing edge

Third umpire Daryl Harper has been cleared of any blame over the non-dismissal of Graeme Smith in the New Year Test

Daryl Harper has been cleared of any blame over the non-dismissal of South Africa captain Graeme Smith under the decision review system during the New Year Test against England at the Wanderers.

England referred umpire Tony Hill’s not-out decision when Smith appeared to edge Ryan Sidebottom to keeper Matt Prior having made just 15 of his eventual 105 runs.

The sound of a nick was apparent on replays, but third umpire Harper was unable to discern it and it subsequently emerged he had had insufficient volume on the feed in his booth.

But an International Cricket Council report carried out by Advocate Brent Lockie and ICC Cricket Committee chairman Clive Lloyd pointed to a technological failure, and an ICC statement added that: “The ICC and the England and Wales Cricket Board agreed that Daryl Harper was entirely blameless due to this technical failure.”

The ICC, at their meeting in Singapore, has approved recommendations concerning the re-instatement of reviews in such cases, and chief executive Haroon Lorgat said: “I am encouraged by everyone’s ongoing willingness to improve the future application of DRS.”

Meanwhile, the ICC has provisionally approved the use of the DRS in next year’s World Cup.

The system will be in place for the World Cup assuming the technology is available and that agreement can be reached with host nations Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka and broadcaster ESPN STAR Sports.

The ICC also decreed that in all international cricket the host member nation would have the final say after consultation with the visiting team.

Lorgat said: “The detailed work of the ICC Cricket Committee gave both the CEC (chief executives’ committee) and the ICC Board excellent direction and there was full agreement that technology would be used whenever possible.

“We have all seen the benefits of using DRS to assist umpires in Test cricket and we are now keen to use DRS in the ICC Cricket World Cup.

"We also acknowledge and we are grateful for the support provided by broadcasters and technology suppliers around the world during the development phase of DRS.”

The ICC's decision also received the backing of the England team director Andy Flower.

"I think the DRS, in whatever format it is used, is quite useful - because we get more good decisions,” Flower said.

"I have no problem with that at all (DRS at World Cup).

“I don't see why, if we give the same level of importance to all three formats, it is only Test cricket that should have DRS available.”