Cricket World Cup: ICC hails impact of referral system

The use of the referral system at the Cricket World Cup has led to a notable improvement in decision making, the International Cricket Council has said.

With teams able to refer at least two decisions, correct calls have been made 97.82% of the time, up from 90.18%.

The ICC added that the nature of the subcontinent wickets has led to an increased number of referrals.

But the system has had its critics – India writing a letter of complaint after a decision went against them.

In their match against England, co-hosts India referred a decision after batsman Ian Bell was given not out following an appeal for lbw.

The subsequent TV footage and tracking software suggested the ball would have gone on to hit the wicket but because Bell was struck more than 2.5 metres from the stumps the umpires were allowed to stick with their on-field decision.
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Bell went on to score 69 runs as England secured a thrilling last-ball tie in Bangalore, prompting the Indian cricket board to send a complaint to the ICC.

“The inadequacy of the Umpire Decision Referral System [UDRS] has been exposed in the Cricket World Cup,” BCCI secretary N Srinivasan wrote in his correspondence with ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat

“The group stage match between India and England was a case in point which clearly brought out the inadequacy of the system.

“The ICC in consultation with Hawkeye formed playing conditions which specifies when the umpire can rely on Hawkeye and when he cannot.

“This itself is an admission on the question of reliability of the system including ball-tracking technology.”