ICC Chief Executive highlights cricket's role at cutting edge of technology

ICC Chief Executive Malcolm Speed today highlighted the leading role that cricket has taken in dealing with the issue of technology in sport while strongly defending the central role of the umpire in the decision-making process.

In a keynote speech at Sport and Technology - The Conference in London, Mr Speed said that the ICC is at the forefront of the debate in balancing the opportunities presented by new technology with its potential impact on the substance and spirit of the international game.

"For over a decade, the ICC has proved to be a governing body that has invested the time and effort to understand technology and its potential role in our sport," said Mr Speed.

"The ICC is not afraid of the challenges technology presents. It systematically analyses new technology to assess the advantages and disadvantages of these innovations by trialling and testing them.

"While many of the innovations are terrific for TV and help the armchair viewer's enjoyment of the match, it doesn't follow that these will also help the umpires improve their percentage of correct decisions.

"If some of the current innovations were brought into the decision-making process they could have a dramatic impact on the way that the game is played. It is the international governing body's role to get this balance right.

"Since the ICC first made the availability of a TV referral process for line decisions part of its standard playing conditions in international cricket in 1995, we have reviewed, tried and tested many innovations and evolved our viewpoint along the way."

Mr Speed explained that over recent years the ICC has reviewed and/or trialled the roles of the following technological developments in the decision-making process:

"The body of research that we have built up over the last decade has lead us to develop a clear position on technology.

"The ICC's view is that we want humans to umpire the game, not robots. It is essential that the umpires are in control and not simply glorified coat stands.

"ICC analysis of the members of the Emirates Elite Panel of ICC Umpires shows that they get over 94 per cent of their decisions correct and I am sure that players and spectators would agree that they form an integral part of the international game.

"Technology will only be used in decision making if it:

"At the ICC we will continue to have an open mind to technology. We will continue to trial and test new innovations - leading the way amongst international governing bodies - but we will only incorporate those innovations that benefit our sport without changing the fabric of the game we hold in trust for future generations."

Click here for the full transcript of Malcolm Speed's speech at Sport and Technology: The Conference.