ICC confirms use of technology for decision-making

In the previous edition of the Champions Trophy, technology came in to help umpires with lbw decisions, informing them if the ball pitched in line or not. This time, umpires will not need to bother with checking where a bowler's front foot lands, for the third official will be calling no-balls.

Dave Richardson, the ICC general manager - cricket, pointed out the advantage of this system: "The effect of this is that the standing umpire will not need to adjust his line of sight from the bowler in delivery stride to the batsman receiving the ball. Instead, he can concentrate fully on the `business' end, which could provide crucial extra fractions of a second to judge whether an appeal is out or not." The on-field umpires will have earpieces to ensure prompt communication with the third umpire.

The earpieces will also help the on-field officials pick the audio from the stump microphones, aiding in caught-behind and bat-pad decisions. The experiment was tried in several first-class matches in South Africa last season, and the initial feedback suggested that the system helped the umpires make more accurate decisions. The experiment with earpieces will be tested during the triangular one-day tournament in Holland - involving Australia, Pakistan and India - and will be used in seven of the 15 Champions Trophy games.

The debate about the extent to which technology should be used in decision-making has evoked diverse reactions, but Malcolm Speed, the ICC chief executive, reiterated that the idea wasn't to take away the authority of on-field umpires. "Cricket is a passionate and emotive game with a powerful element of character and personality. Umpires are part of this and the ICC has no wish to reduce their contribution by taking decision-making authority away from them.

"I do not believe the game or its followers want to see umpires reduced to the role of coat racks, but we all have a vested interest in trying to improve the accuracy and consistency of decision-making."