In light of the controversy surrounding the Umpire Decision Review System (DRS), the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to make three rule changes. The recommendations were provided by the ICC Cricket Committee, led by former Indian leg-spinner, Anil Kumble, which have been approved by the ICC board.
All the changes were made keeping in view the margin of human error and fully utilize the technology to arrive at the correct decision. The three changes are as follows:
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- For LBW reviews, the height margin of the Wicket Zone will be lifted to the top of the stumps to ensure the same Umpire’s Call margin around the stumps for both height and width.
- A player will be able to ask the umpire whether a genuine attempt has been made to play the ball before deciding to review an LBW decision.
- The 3rd Umpire will check a replay of any short run that has been called and correct any error prior to the next ball being bowled.
In addition to the three rule changes, discussions were held regarding the issue of the umpire’s call. Recently, Indian captain, Virat Kohli, voiced his opinion on DRS rule of umpire’s call. He called the rule confusing and requested the authorities to change the rule.
Anil Kumble talked about the discussions that were held regarding the umpire’s call, saying:
The Cricket Committee had an excellent discussion around Umpire’s Call and analyzed its use extensively. The principle underpinning DRS was to correct clear errors in the game whilst ensuring the role of the umpire as the decision maker on the field of play was preserved, bearing in mind the element of prediction involved with the technology. Umpire’s Call allows that to happen, which is why it is important it remains.
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Keeping in view the COVID-19 situation around the world, ICC decided to introduce four new rules to continue cricketing activities in the world safely. The rules are as follows:
- The flexibility to be able to appoint home umpires where neutral umpires were previously required.
- The additional DRS review per team per innings in all formats.
- The ban on using saliva to polish the ball, and
- The availability of a COVID-19 replacement in Test matches.
The committees noted the excellent performances by the home umpires over the past 9 months but encouraged more widespread appointment of neutral Elite Panel umpires whenever circumstances allow.
The recent introduction of replacement players for both concussion and COVID-19 prompted a discussion at the Cricket Committee on the more general use of replacement players in the international game. To better understand the implications of allowing players to be replaced during a match, the definition of a First-Class Match will be changed to allow the unqualified use of replacement players.
