Review system set for October launch

The new system, which will be introduced late this year, will allow players to refer decisions made by the on-field umpires

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The umpire decision review system will be introduced into Test cricket in October, the International Cricket Council has confirmed.

The ICC board accepted the ICC cricket committee’s recommendation that the system – trialled over the last year – be introduced on a permanent basis.

The system allows the fielding captain and the batsman to refer decisions made by the on-field umpires to the television official, although they will be limited to two unsuccessful referrals.

It was employed during England’s Test series in the West Indies earlier this year and, despite criticism from some quarters, the ICC board revealed after the first day of its board meeting at Lord’s yesterday that the scheme will be “rolled out” later this year.

The board also agreed to implement several other suggestions made by the cricket committee, including handing out an automatic one-game ban for captains of sides who are fined for slow over-rates three times in a year in the same format of the game. Fines will also be doubled.

In a move designed to minimise stoppages, the option of leaving the field due to bad light will no longer be offered to the batsmen.

Play will now only be suspended when the umpires consider conditions “unreasonable or dangerous” – rather than merely “unsuitable”, as is currently the case. Such a system has already been employed by the ECB in domestic cricket.

The ICC board revealed it will continue to explore day/night Tests – dependant on the approval of the Test-playing nations and successful trials at first-class level with a suitable ball.

The matter will discussed further in early 2010, with the possibility of trialling the concept later in the year.

The country boards were warned that stricter penalties would be imposed for their producing pitches which were too batsmen-friendly – as happened on England’s recent tour of the Caribbean and which were deemed “a serious threat to the game”.

The ICC board also received draft proposals for a new Future Tours Programme, which will be finalised as soon as possible.

The board will today discuss the 2011 World Cup and the possibility of hosting games in Pakistan.