The ICC's Cricket Committee-Playing has agreed to introduce a number of new playing conditions for Test and One Day International (ODI) cricket, while maintaining its current level of commitment to the use of TV technology to assist umpires' decision making.

For Test cricket the Committee, chaired by Sunil Gavaskar, has approved the mandatory use of lights to allow play to continue in conditions when natural light would prevent it. The decision to use lights will be at the discretion of the umpires.

It has also agreed to the use of 5 penalty runs on the field of play for all disciplinary breaches covered by the Laws of the game. This will be for a trial period of twelve months. Penalty runs cover both Test and ODI matches.

A proposal from the Australian Cricket Board for the use of a series of disciplinary cards was discussed and will be further reviewed at the June 17th Cricket Committee-Management (CC-M) meeting in London.

Playing Conditions for ODI Cricket

The overall view of CC-P was that ODI matches would benefit from a series of new initiatives aimed at avoiding the predictability apparent in many games.

To help achieve this aim the following playing conditions were approved:

• The bowling of one bouncer per over
• Allocation of bonus points for tournaments and series involving three or more teams. Winning teams will be awarded four points, with a tie or no result counting for two points. A single bonus point will be available to the winning team. A detailed statistical assessment of the formula used to calculate the awarding of bonus points will be agreed at the CC-M meeting in June.
• A proposal from the ECB for the introduction of a six run penalty for each over of an innings not bowled by the scheduled cessation time was approved. This will apply to both innings of a match.
• The Duckworth Lewis method for re-calculating target scores was approved for a further three years

Use of TV Technology

After thorough discussion and debate on the pros and cons of technology CC-P has decided to maintain the status quo. This allows TV replays to assist umpires in making what are termed `line decisions' covering stumpings, hit wicket, run out and boundaries. Replays can also be used to determine if a catch has been cleanly taken by a fielder.

"In reaching the decision to maintain the current level of technological assistance the Committee considered the merits of all options available to it. These included using more or even less technology," said Sunil Gavaskar.

"Our final decision was influenced by the ICC's recommendations on the restructuring of the international panel of umpires. This proposes to appoint an Elite panel of the best umpires to officiate in all Test matches from April 2002. The view of the Committee was that the consistent use of the most highly regarded umpires will improve the overall standard of decision making, and that further use of technology would not, at present, be required, he added.

"This decision does not mean that the game is rejecting the extension of TV based technology in the long term. The Committee will review the matter on a regular basis, rather than consider it every three years as per other playing regulations," said Sunil Gavaskar.

The recommendations for restructuring the umpires and referees panel will be considered at the 17th June CC-M meeting.

Decisions reached by CC-P will be applied to all international cricket from 1st September 2001.

All ICC Full Member countries plus Associates were represented at the meeting. Delegates attending were:

Sunil Gavaskar, India, chairman     Allan Border, Australia
John Reid Jnr., New Zealand         Zaheer Abbas, Pakistan
Brian Basson, South Africa          Sidath Wettimuny, Sri Lanka
Kris Srikkanth, India               Andy Pycroft, Zimbabwe
Jackie Hendriks, West Indies        A Roquibal Hassan, Bangladesh
David Acfield, England              Geoff Edwards, Canada
John Everett, Scotland              Harilal Shah, Kenya

ICC chief executive David Richards and cricket operations manager Clive Hitchcock represented ICC management at the meeting.

For more information, please contact:

Mark Harrison
ICC Communications Manager
Tel: 020 7266 7913/1818
Email: mark.harrison@icc.cricket.org

Clive Hitchcock
ICC Cricket Operations Manager
Tel: 020 7266 7909

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