ICC Committee to have annual review of DRS

 The controversial Decision Review System will come for its annual review by the ICC's Cricket Committee which will consider reliability of the technologies used and the extent of improvements made in a two-day meeting beginning on Wednesday at the Lord's in London.

The committee, headed by former West Indies captain Clive Llyod, will look into the results, reliability of technologies used and the extent of improvements, the appropriateness of the current DRS LBW protocols and the impact on the game in the balance between bat and ball.

A wide range of other issues will also be discussed during the two-day meeting including Twenty20 strategy and the format of ODI cricket.

The Committee will consider the role of Twenty20 cricket in the growth of the game in the developing cricket world. The volume of Twenty20 cricket relative to the volume of the other formats in bilateral series will also be discussed.

It will also discuss the global Twenty20 ICC events and proliferation of domestic leagues, involving foreign players and private ownership and the consequent impact on international cricket.

Regarding the format of ODI cricket, the ICC Cricket Committee will consider the impact of the rule changes and the outcome of the trials made recently and whether any other changes should be introduced to further enhance the format at international level.
At last year's ICC Cricket Committee meeting, two changes were introduced to ODI format. Teams were compelled to take batting and bowling Powerplays between the 16th and 40th overs and were required to use two new balls, one from each end.

Members were encouraged to continue trialling the innovations at domestic level such as increasing the maximum number of overs each bowler could deliver; no compulsory close catchers, a maximum of four fielders outside the 30 yard circle during non-Powerplay overs, increasing the number of short pitched deliveries (above shoulder height) that can be delivered per over from one to two. These changes and trial innovations were aimed at making the 50-over game a more attacking one, both from a batting and bowling perspective, especially during the middle overs, and to improve the balance between bat and ball.

The Committee will also receive reports of the ongoing trials on Day/Night Test cricket and consider reports involving the development and feasibility of using different colour balls in multi-day formats in day/night conditions.

It will also receive an update on the research project on illegal bowling action, commissioned by ICC, with the assistance of MCC, aimed at developing wearable technology that can be used to monitor bowling actions by providing real time feedback to the athlete, coach and umpires during training/match environments.

A prototype sensor has been developed capable of producing data that would indicate whether or not the bowler’s elbow is being straightened during the delivery swing. The next phase of the project will involve the further development of the sensors and the validation of the data produced.

In May 2009, the ICC Cricket Committee endorsed an MCC view that the switch-hit was an exciting shot which offered the bowlers a good chance of taking a wicket and thus one which should remain a legitimate part of the game. With the more frequent and skillful use of the switch hit, the Committee will be asked to again consider the matter from the perspective of retaining a fair balance between bat and ball.

Other items on the agenda of the meeting include reports on umpire performances and player behaviour, pace of play and the use of substitute fielders and consideration of the VJD system as a method for the calculation of target scores in reduced limited overs matches.

The recommendations of the committee will go to the Chief Executives' Committee and the ICC Board for approval. The next meetings of those committees are set for Kuala Lumpur during the ICC's annual conference week from June 24-28.