Australia to ban video umpire for catches

Australian cricket officials have decided to abandon the use of video umpires to rule on contentious catches during this season's interstate first-class and one-day matches.

The third umpire system will still be used in tests and one-day internationals, which are governed by the International Cricket Council's playing conditions, but not in local domestic matches.

The decision was made by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) following complaints from players, who believe the final decision should revert back to the on-field official if the video umpire's evidence is inconclusive.

The ACB had tried to have the third umpire's role in adjudicating catches banned at international level, but was over-ruled by the ICC's playing committee.

An ACB spokesman said the board decided to abandon their use after reviewing last year's statistics which showed that every time a catch was referred to the third umpire, the batsman was given not out because of the inconclusive nature of the footage.

"We've made no secret of our views on the use of video replays to adjudicate on catches and that's reinforced by those figures," the spokesman said.

Mail Cricket Editor