Changes to DRS, subs mooted by ICC

The Decision Review System could be introduced for all Twenty20 internationals, while teams will not lose a review when an LBW referral comes back as ‘umpire’s call’ under a host of changes recommended by the International Cricket Council’s Cricket Committee.

The influential 15-member committee, which is chaired by India coach Anil Kumble and includes Australia coach Darren Lehmann as well as legends like Mahela Jaywardene, Rahul Dravid and Andrew Strauss, met in London this week to examine and consider a number of issues and also endorse a list of changes made by the Marylebone Cricket Club to the Code of Laws earlier this year.

Under the proposed changes, teams would no longer lose a review for an ‘umpire’s call’ LBW review, but the current 80-over top up of reviews in Test cricket would be scrapped. It would leave teams with just two reviews for the entire innings, while teams would continue to have one review per limited-overs innings.

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The push to allow the use of concussion substitutes also received a boost, with the committee recommending amendments to the ‘Classification of Official Cricket’ to allow countries to run a two-year trial of concussion substitutes in first-class cricket. 

Cricket Australia has already introduced concussion substitutes for domestic limited-overs matches, but it requires approval from the ICC to implement it in the Sheffield Shield in order for the competition to retain its first-class status.

The committee also reviewed a no-ball trial held during last year’s ODI series between England and Pakistan, when the TV Umpire observed the front line for all deliveries in order to better adjudicate no-balls. The committee recommended the practice be adopted in all international matches using instant replays.

The adoption of a host of changes made by the MCC to its Code of Laws has also been recommended, including an official limit on the thickness of bats, which would be restricted in a bid to redress the balance between bat and ball. The new maximum permitted dimensions of a cricket bat will be 108mm in width, 67mm in depth with 40mm edges.

A change will also be made to protect batters from 'bouncing bat' run outs, meaning a batter who has grounded their bat beyond the popping crease before it then bounces and loses contact with safe territory when the wicket is put down, will not be run out.

Umpires will also be granted new powers to remove players from the field or award penalty runs in a bid to prevent poor player behaviour.

The committee also expressed unanimous support for the implementation of a new Test cricket competition to add context to the longest form of the game, and for the future involvement of cricket in the Olympic Games.

If the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee approves the changes to the playing conditions, they would come into effect from October 1 this year.