ICC Makes Changes To LBW Reviews, Umpire's Call To Remain

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Despite criticism from cricket stalwarts like Sunil Gavaskar and current India captain Virat Kohli, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has decided to retain the Umpire's Call but has made significant changes to the Lef Before Wickets (LBW) reviews.

Now, the ICC has extended the height of the stumps to include the top half of the bails and allowed the fielding side to first ask an umpire if the batsman has offered a shot before going for the review.

"The Cricket Committee had an excellent discussion around Umpire's Call and analyzed its use extensively. The principle underpinning DRS (Decision Review System) 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," the Cricket Committee chairman Anil Kumble was quoted as saying in an ICC statement on Thursday.

As per changes made to the umpire's DRS, the ICC Cricket Committee decided that the height of the stumps will be increased from 28 inches to 28 1/2 inches for LBW decisions.

"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," said the statement. The change could see an increase in LBW decisions.

In the final ODI between England and India recently, England pace bowler Mark Wood was given out LBW but on review, showed replays, the ball was missing the stumps by a whisker. Although it seemed to touch the top of the bail, it was given not out on review as it was going beyond 28 inches.

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