19 Nov 2009

Umpire referral system gets green light for NZ series against Pakistan

7:03 am on 19 November 2009

Cricket's controversial Umpire Decision Review System, will be used for the upcoming test series between New Zealand and Pakistan.

It means the series will be the first on international cricket calendar to use the system which has been mired in controversy.

Players are less than enthusiastic about it while there has been a stand off between national boards and broadcasters as to who was going to pay for the system.

New Zealand cricket says it's reached an agreement with Dunedin-based company Animation Research Limited, to supply their Virtual Eye ball-tracking system.

India and Sri Lanka were suppose to use the system in their current series and NZ Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan says it's important it's now used in all tests.

The DRS allows the third umpire to use ball-tracking or other available technology to review decisions requested by players. Each team is allowed to make two unsuccessful player review requests per innings.