The controversial umpires' decision review system will be introduced to Test cricket later this year.

Following a two-day meeting of the International Cricket Council's cricket committee at Lord's, it was decided the referral system, trialled in England's recent away series defeat to West Indies, will come into operation from October.

Its use in the Caribbean came under fire for the length of time taken out of the game when players challenged decisions, and final judgments on dismissals also came under scrutiny.

The cricket committee, chaired by ex-West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, proposed that the review system should not be brought in until after England's high-profile Ashes series against Australia later this summer.

Although its implementation is expected to be ratified at a full ICC board meeting next month, Lloyd's committee decided to allow officials time to digest and better understand its operation.

So it will come into effect immediately after this year's Champions Trophy in South Africa.

The trial, which saw players given the opportunity to ask for umpires' decisions to be reviewed by the television umpire, took place in four Test series spanning nine months, and has led to some fine-tuning.

"The committee's recommendation will now be taken forward to the ICC chief executives' committee and the ICC board and if both those groups agree then we will seek to roll out the system from October 2009," confirmed ICC chief executive Haroon Lorgat.

"The time ahead of that date will allow us to firm up the playing conditions, technical specifications and protocols, ensure additional training for match officials and further brief the players so the process can be successfully implemented."

The cricket committee also suggested day-night Test matches should be further explored with the potential of a trial match being set up in the next 12 months.

Meanwhile, they put forward a case for stiffer penalties for those teams and captains who maintained poor over rates.