The ECB have announced that players will be able to refer two umpires’ decisions to the third umpire in a trial experiment in the Friends Provident Trophy this year.

Each team are allowed two unsuccessful referrals per innings, and only the captain of the fielding side and the batsman involved in the dismissal may refer a decision to the third umpire.
 
All modes of dismissal apart from timed out, can be referred to the TV umpire and all referrals must be made immediately. The TV umpire will reverse a decision if it is beyond reasonable doubt that the on field umpire has made a clear and obvious mistake.

The referrals will only be available in televised matches.
 
Alan Fordham, ECB Head of Operations – First Class Cricket, said: “We are delighted to be undertaking this exciting trial as we are committed to innovation.

“While we acknowledge the high standard of umpiring in our domestic game, we believe that the opportunity to explore ways that we can achieve even more correct decisions must be taken, and this is the aim of the trial.”
 
The competition is again being played in the first half of the season, with our first match against Yorkshire on Sunday April 22. While the north and south conferences remain as last season, semi-finals have now been introduced and will be played in June, with the final at Lord’s in August.