Cricket: Stalled talks mean referral system out for tests

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The umpiring referral system won't be used in New Zealand's two-test series against Pakistan.

Known as the umpire decision review system, both countries wanted to use it, but have been stymied by a breakdown in discussions between the International Cricket Council and technology providers.

They include the Dunedin-based Animation Research, who provide the Virtual Eye system, and want the technology to be used in all test series or not at all.

All test-playing nations apart from India are known to support it. The ICC have been unable to implement it worldwide and so, for now, it is off the grid.

Under the system teams could appeal against umpires' decisions with a maximum of two unsuccessful appeals an innings.

The failure to find common ground means no hotspot or ball-tracking available to the third umpire in the series starting next Friday. Instead he will only help out with close calls on run outs, stumpings or catches.

However, television viewers will still see Hotspot and the ball-tracking on Sky Television's coverage of the tests.

"I like the referral system and I think we have seen it only in a positive light," New Zealand captain Dan Vettori said last night.

However he backed the idea of having it locked in, rather than at the whim of individual countries. "It needs to be used consistently and not on an ad hoc basis. I think the technology still needs some improvement but I am certainly in favour of it."

The ICC were unable to give any guarantee to the technology companies over its use; the technology providers argue the systems, which also include British-based Hawkeye and Australian operators of Hotspot, need more investment but it's not worthwhile unless the systems are a fixture in test cricket.

The break also gives the ICC time to reconsider who should have the right to seek a referral. One argument is that umpires, rather than players, should be entitled to check upstairs.

NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan said: "I suppose by creating this artificial hiatus it may allow the [ICC] cricket committee, which will meet in May, to relook at that whole option to see whether umpire referral might be a better way to go."

The system may now be in doubt for the World Cup.