The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that the controversial umpire decision review system (UDRS) will be used at the 2011 World Cup subject to agreement with its broadcast partners ESPN Star Sports.
"The ICC Cricket Committee recommends that UDRS, subject to agreement with ICC broadcaster partners ESPN Star Sports , should be used in all matches in the World Cup 2011 in India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted an ICC statement as saying.
The decision was taken in the annual meeting of the ICC Cricket Committee held at Lord’s in London. The ICC also said that the UDRS should be introduced in all Test series as soon as possible, where each team will be allowed two referrals per innings to the third umpire. The system has been regularly criticized by all teams, and was at the centre of an embarrassing row in January during the Johannesburg Test between South Africa and England.
Meanwhile, following a discussion on the switch hit/reverse sweep, the ICC adopted the updated directive introduced earlier in the year, which prevents the batsman from altering his grip or stance before the bowler enters his delivery stride. Should the bowler see a batsman change his grip or stance prior to the delivery stride the bowler can decide not to bowl the ball.
The ICC also agreed that batsmen trying to steal ground when the bowler is running in to bowl should be discouraged, and regulations will be looked to be introduced to make sure that batsmen remain in their crease until the bowler’s front foot lands.
