The ICC on Monday,officially issued fresh guidelines to umpires for the 2.5 metre rule,which is integral to the Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS). As reported by the The Indian Express on Sunday,the ICC has briefed the umpires to overlook the 2.5 metre rule in cases where video evidence strongly indicates that the ball will hit the stumps. The rule had been in the news after it was seen to be interpreted differently by on-field umpires,there by adding to the confusion. The issuance of the new directive means that even though there may be a distance between the stumps and the point of impact of 2.5m or greater,the umpire can think of changing the decision even if the replay shows that the ball is hitting any part of the middle stump. Before these fresh directions,a LBW decision could be changed by the umpires only if the replay was showing that the ball was hitting right in the middle of middle stump. Ian Bell was given not out,while Irelands Alex Cusack,initially adjudged not out,was ruled LBW despite him being struck more than 2.5m in front of the wicket. The ICC also stated,that if both the 40cm (the distance covered by the ball between pitching and hitting the pads) and the 2.5metre graphic appear for the same delivery,the batsman will have to be given not out. And if more than 2.5m graphic appears without the 40cm graphic,the third umpire will be informed by Hawk-Eye about the exact distance of impact from the stumps. If this distance is greater than 3.5m,the batsman will remain not out. Meanwhile,the ICC revealed that correct decisions in the tournament have risen from an 90.18 per cent to 97.82 due to the use of technology. It is a fact that the number of decisions in this event is way above the normal average for ODIs. This is because of the type of wickets that prevail in the sub-continent where the bounce is often lower and where there is a greater amount of turn. What it is demonstrating clearly is that the DRS is helping umpires,who are maintaining consistently high levels of performance, said David Richardson,ICC general manager,cricket.
