The Ashes 2013: Instant replays for third umpire put on trial by ICC

The ICC has put a trial in place in the ongoing Ashes where instant replays will be shown to the third umpire.

The third umpire will be provided with direct pictures that would negate controversial happenings like the Stuart Broad incident in which the batsman got away with a thick edge to slip, in the first Ashes Test last week.

The chief executive of the ICC, Dave Richardson has admitted that it was frustrating for all concerned to get decisions wrong when the technology was available precisely to avoid such mistakes.

Explaining the trial, Richardson said “For that reason, up to the third Test, we have a trial going on, independent of what is happening on the field, to allow the third umpire to have a bank of televisions where he can actually choose and get access to the technology much quicker than he would if he simply relies on the director or producer sending him the pictures up to him”.

Richardson emphasized that it was a long-term process, and the ICC was optimistic about its chances of success.

Immediate reactions from most experts are positive to the move, with many believing it was time for the ICC to act more rapidly with increasing decisions regarding the use of DRS being under question.