WORLD cricket is set to usher hi-tech eletronics into Test cricket and this should help revive the endangered craft of spin bowling.

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The ICC cricket committee, chaired by Sunil Gavaskar, recommended today that a referral system for batting and bowling teams against umpiring decisions, including LBW and bat-pad catches, was worth a trial, and the idea is due to be approved in June.

County cricket tried referrals in the Friends Provident Trophy competition during 2007, and the trial was dropped because not a single decision was countermanded by the third umpire. But that was one-day cricket, a format that renders bat-pad catches almost extinct and probably reduces LBW opportunities. Test cricket has richer avenues.

The ICC propose that each side will be limited to three unsuccessful referrals per innings on any aspect of play in consultation with the third umpire. The British-designed computer system Hawk-Eye will be used for guidance, though the ICC tried to play down the significance. "It is only for the purposes of determining the actual path of the ball up until the point that it struck the batsman and not the predictor function of the technology," a spokesman said.

Sophisticated ultra slow-motion cameras almost always detect bat-pad snicks and even feathered catches behind. With so few spinners established in Test cricket after Warne and Muralitharan, snick assistance should encourage them.  LBW will probably remain contentious, especially from the batsman's point of view. To refer a decision against is so risky as so often there can be no certainty the ball will not be hitting their stumps, though cameras should clarify undetected bat edges on to pads.

On other matters the high-powered ICC panel agreed that there was a strong need to identify and maintain a balance between Test, one-day and Twenty20 so that all of them could continue to thrive. Test cricket should remain the pinnacle of the sport and the committee expressed the need for the best available participants -- players, umpires and referees -- to be involved in international cricket.

The bowl-out in the event of a tie in the ICC World Twenty20 or ICC Champions Trophy should be replaced by a one-over-per-team play-off and, if approved, will come into effect at the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan on Sept 11-28.

Many club cricketers and umpires read this site. What do you think?