Dubai, Sep 18 (IANS) The International Cricket Council (ICC) Wednesday deccided to allow two extra reviews per innings in Test matches as part of a trial starting next month.

The ICC during its Chief Executives’ Committee (CEC) meeting here decided that a team's referral count will be topped up to two reviews after 80 overs of an innings in matches where DRS is used. 

The trial starts from Oct 1, meaning it would be in operation for the Ashes series in Australia starting in November.

The use of Decision Review System (DRS) was one of the key issues discussed at a two-day meeting. DRS was in question during the recent Ashes series in England that was marred with contentious umpiring.

The CEC reviewed the performance of the DRS during the Ashes series and received an update on a technology trial that was conducted during the Old Trafford Test. A paper prepared by Cricket Australia (CA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following their series in England was also discussed.

The CEC agreed that a working group be constituted to consider how the ICC should best use technology in umpire decision-making in the future. The considerations of the group will be wide ranging and include a review of the objectives and philosophies of using technology, the technologies, protocols and procedures as well as the role and training of television umpires.

Noting that most of the contentious decisions relate to faint edges, the performance of the Real-Time Snickometer during the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 and the Ashes, and the potential to use this technology to assist the umpires in making these decisions was discussed.

An independent assessment of this technology will be conducted before a decision is made on its inclusion in the list of approved DRS technologies.

In addition, the committee noted the focus on training of television umpires at the recent elite match Officials workshop and supported the continued investment in this area.

The CEC received a report on the outcomes from a recent three-day workshop for international umpires and match referees. The CEC also endorsed the umpires’ intention to become far stricter on poor over-rates and time wasting and to maximize playing time in conditions where it is safe to do so. 

The CEC also discussed cricket committee's report and decided against retaining the two new balls provision.

The CEC asked the ICC Cricket Committee to prioritise investigations into the development of a ball that can last the full 50 overs of an innings whilst still providing a fair balance between bat and ball.

The CEC also approved the ICC Cricket Committee’s recommendation that in an ODI reduced to 25 overs or less prior to the start of first innings, only one new ball will be used per innings. This regulation will come into effect from Oct 1.