In what comes as a major shot in the arm for bowlers, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has approved amendments in the leg before wicket (LBW) decisions of the umpires concerning the controversial decision review system (DRS).
The decision was taken after the global governing body's annual meeting concluded in Edinburgh on Saturday under the chairmanship of former Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) chief Shashank Manohar. Besides that, a few major decisions were also taken.
"The size of the zone inside which half the ball needs to hit for a Not Out decision to be reversed to Out will increase, changing to a zone bordered by the outside of off and leg stumps, and the bottom of the bails (formerly the centre of off and leg stumps, and the bottom of the bails)," the ICC said in a statement.
The new law will come into effect from October 1 or from the start of any series using DRS that commences just prior to this date, the ICC said.
The ICC will also hold trials to check if the TV umpire can use replays to call no balls more accurately, and within seconds of the ball being delivered.
Among other decisions, the global body decided to apply for inclusion of women's cricket in the 2022 Commonwealth Games at Durban, and held back plans to introduce a two-tier system in Test cricket for further study.
It also said plans to reverse a 2014 decision giving India, Australia and England a larger share of the revenue and a bigger say in administrative matters would be taken up after the ICC board receives the draft of a new constitution at its October meetings.
--IANS
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