Re: ICC considers new right of appeal
It's 3.
*Players can appeal to third umpires? *
Dubai: The International Cricket Council agreed on Saturday to players' making a limited number of appeals to the third umpire in case of difference of opinion with the on-field umpire during the ICC Champions Trophy in India, in spite of having its reservations.
The ICC Cricket Committee decided at its two-day meeting to first implement the recommendation on trial basis in the October-November tournament and review it after the event.
"Each team will be allowed three appeals to the third umpire per innings. If the appeal is successful they will retain the right to three appeals but if not, then it is lost," ICC General Manager David Richardson said.
The recommendation was, however, made by the narrowest possible margin (six votes to five) with reservations expressed over the fabric of the game and the role and authority of the on-field umpire.
The Committee also recommended that the equipping umpires with earpieces connected to the stump microphones be mandatory in all international matches.
"The main point of the trial would be to see how much this use of technology may impact on the spirit of cricket," said Richardson.
The recommendations made by the ICC Cricket Committee have to be approved by the Chief Executives' Committee and if that approval is forthcoming then the decisions can be approved at the ICC Board meeting, with both meetings set for London in July.
The trial would not include the use of technology such as Hawkeye or the Snickometer but would include the LBW mat, the super-imposed line on the screen between the two sets of stumps to determine where the ball pitches and the point of impact on the batsman's pads.
"What we hope the trial will do, if approved, is to help eradicate the very few obvious errors that may be made by umpires, who already get between 94 and 96 per cent of decisions right at international level," Richardson said.