BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC) – Cricket’s world governing body, the ICC, are anxiously anticipating a successful roll out of the umpires’ decision review system which will be used in the opening Test between West Indies and Australia starting Thursday.

“We are excited about the introduction of this ground-breaking system,” said David Richardson, the ICC general manager for cricket.

“With the improvement of technology, umpires’ mistakes are exposed and scrutinised like never before. This system will help alleviate the problems created when mistakes – which appear obvious on replays – are made.”

The system has been used on a trial basis for over a year as the ICC has tried to work out kinks in its application.

While there has been mixed reaction to its implementation, nine of the 10 Full ICC members have come on board, giving the governing body the green light for the use of the system.

“The system allows television technology to be used in a way that will not result in too many delays, will not de-skill the umpires and will take some pressure off the umpires,” said Richardson.

“The fact is that trials showed that the system improved player behaviour and led to a significant reduction in the number of umpiring errors.”

The New Zealand/Pakistan Test series starting in Dunedin today will herald the official use of the system.