World cricket's leading umpires today gave their backing to the extended use of TV technology, on an experimental basis.

The eight members of the ICC's Elite panel of umpires have agreed to trial a new system during September's Champions Trophy tournament in Sri Lanka in September. The decision was reached on the first day of the ICC Umpires and Referees Conference near Cape Town, South Africa.

Under the experimental system field umpires will be able to consult with the third umpire on any aspect of a decision they are unsure of. Consultation will be optional, but when called for decisions will be reached as soon as possible. The third umpire will be allowed two replays of any incident before passing on information to the field umpire. Line decisions, hit wicket and boundary referrals will continue to be decided by the TV umpire, as per the present system.

The recommendation will now go forward for final ratification by the ICC Executive Board, which next meets in England during June.

"This endorsement was a positive outcome from a very good day's business for the Conference," said ICC Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed. "The issue of technology was debated at some length and it was agreed that a trial was the best way to move forward, to judge if more technological assistance would be of benefit.

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