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Brisbane - Host broadcaster Channel 9 and developers of the real-time Snickometer have reached an agreement to include the technology among the Decision Review System tools available for umpires during the Ashes series.
Snickometer, previously used on TV broadcasts but not available to umpire reviews of disputed calls during tests, will join Hot Spot, Eagle-Eye ball tracking and stump microphones as part of the DRS technology package, the International Cricket Council confirmed on Tuesday.
Snickometer uses both sight and sound to determine whether a batsman has edged the ball but isn't on the ICC's approved list of DRS technologies. However, the governing body in September began a process of evaluating it for inclusion in future series.
"Cricket Australia and the England and Wales Cricket Board have agreed to use the RTS as part of the DRS during the upcoming Ashes series," the ICC statement said. "The ICC and the host broadcaster, the Nine Network, have supported this initiative."
ICC general manager Geoff Allardice said Snickometer should "improve the DRS by getting more decisions correct involving faint edges, help the umpires make those decisions faster, and help spectators and viewers better understand those decisions."
The last Ashes series in England was blighted by poor umpiring decisions, both on the field and on review by TV umpires, and confusion over the implementation of Hot Spot and audio technology.
Australian Associated Press reported that Simon Taufel, the ICC head of umpiring, and Allardice, met with umpires Marais Erasmus, Aleem Dar and Kumar Dharmasena at the Gabba on Tuesday. Taufel and Erasmus also briefed the Australia and England squads on the expanded DRS.
