MANCHESTER — This week's third Ashes Test will see the International Cricket Council (ICC) trial an independent television feed with the aim of improving its controversial Decision Review System. DRS, designed to eliminate the “howler” by on-field umpires, has been at the centre of several controversial decisions in the first two Test of the Ashes, both of which England have won to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Former Australia captain Ian Chappell has been among those leading calls for the system to become a fully independent operation and not, as is currently the case, be reliant on the technology of the host broadcaster. Now this week's Test between England and Australia at Old Trafford will see the ICC trial an independent feed, although it will not yet be available to help the third umpire with his deliberations. Earlier this month, ICC chief executive David Richardson explained how the new feed, which is still at the “drawing-board stage,” might work as part of an improved DRS set-up. “There will be a bank of televisions in the third umpire's room — with Hawkeye, replays and Hot Spot directly available to him to look at independently to what is on TV,” Richardson said. “At the moment the third umpire talks to the TV producer and says ‘Can I have a look at this?',” the former South Africa wicketkeeper added. “The idea is you give the third umpire access to information he needs much quicker and (you are) not reliant on the television producer to do it.” Anderson says 5-0 far from England's thoughts England spearhead James Anderson said Tuesday that the side were focused solely on the job in the hand ahead of the third Ashes Test against Australia and not a 5-0 whitewash. Ashes holder England has put itself in pole position to retain the urn by going 2-0 up in the five-match series with victories at Trent Bridge and Lord's ahead of this week's clash at Lancashire paceman Anderson's Old Trafford home ground. Only last week Anderson, who turned 31 Tuesday, said: “We want to win the series 5-0, so we will be doing everything we can in each game to win.” But in his latest remarks, he indicated the best way of achieving a 5-0 sweep — something England has never managed against arch-rival Australia — was to concentrate on one Test at a time. When the third Test starts Thursday it will be the first time Old Trafford — which shares its name with the nearby Manchester United football ground — has staged an Ashes match since 2005 when Australia's last-wicket pair of Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath batted out the final four overs of a thrilling draw. “I am very exited about it. I have not played an Ashes Test here before,” said Anderson, who was born in nearby Burnley. Since 2005, Old Trafford has undergone a £44 million ($67 million) redevelopment which has seen the pavilion modernised, a conference center built and, perhaps the most striking change of all, the square turned so that pitches now face north-south rather than east-west axis. “The ground looks amazing, the redevelopments have made huge improvements and come Thursday it will be an incredible atmosphere and something we are all looking forward to,” Anderson said. “The whole region is cricket-mad and to get an Ashes Test back is a huge thing for the area.” However, for all the changes the surface at Old Trafford — where England off-spinner Jim Laker took a record 19 wickets for 90 runs in the 1956 Ashes Test — remains helpful to slow bowlers. Monty Panesar has been added to England's squad as a second spinner but Anderson was understandably keen the pitch should have something in it for himself and the rest of the hosts' faster bowlers. Sri Lanka calls up 2 newcomers for final ODI Sri Lanka has named two uncapped players in their 15-man squad to face South Africa in the fifth and final One-Day International in Colombo Wednesday. All-rounder Chathuranga de Silva and left-arm seam bowler Vimukthi Perera, both 23, are among changes made to the team who have already taken a winning 3-1 lead in the five-match series. Openers Kusal Perera and Dimuth Karunaratne have been recalled while Upul Tharanga and Jehan Mubarak have been dropped from the squad. Senior players Mahela Jayawardene, Rangana Herath and Lasith Malinga have been rested, while fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara was not considered for selection as he is recovering from a finger injury. — Agencies
