Kolkata: The International Cricket Council on Tuesday announced a series of amendments in the MCC law book of cricket. It approved all the recommendations made by the ICC cricket committee during its annual meeting in May. The changes which were made will come into force from September 28.
“Most of the changes to the ICC playing conditions are being made as a result of changes to the Laws of Cricket that have been announced by the MCC. We have just completed a workshop with the umpires to ensure they understand all of the changes and we are now ready to introduce the new playing conditions to international matches,” said Geoff Allardice, the ICC General Manager in an official statement.
The new rules are as follows:
DRS and umpire’s call: According to the changes, teams will not lose any review if the ‘umpire’s call’ verdict is given in benefits of doubt scenarios. The rule of DRS appeal top-ups renew in Test cricket after 80 overs in an innings has been removed. Earlier teams were allowed two unsuccessful reviews for the first 80 overs after the completion of which two more DRS appeal reviews were added to a team’s kitty. But this will stop once the new rules are implemented. September 28 will also see DRS introduced in Twenty-20 internationals as well.
Restrictions on bat sizes: The size and thickness of bats have for a long time been considered as giving an additional advantage to a batsman over the bowler. In a bid to end this disparity between the bat and ball, Bats will now be limited to 67mm in depth with 40mm edges. However, the length and width of bats remained unchanged. Umpires will be given a new bat gauge, which can be used to check a bat’s legality.
Sending players off: Umpire’s now will have the right to send off any player for the rest of the match for ‘any serious misconduct’ and will fall under level four of the offences. Similar, to a red card in football this rule will be applicable across all formats of cricket.
Run-outs from bouncing bats: A batsman now will not be adjuged run-out if he has grounded his bat in the crease earlier, but did not touch any part of the ground when the ball hit the stumps. It will be the same even in case of stumpings.
Penalties: A bowler who is found to be deliberately bowling a front foot no-ball can be banned from bowling by the umpire for the rest of the innings.
Fielders who are found to be distacting or deceving a batsman would be penalised. This also includes pretending to pick/throw a ball.
If a delivery bounces more than once before the crease, it will be called a no-ball. Earlier, the rule was for the ball bouncing more than twice.
Some other changes:
In a rain affected match, where the overs are reduced to 10 or less, a Bowler’s maximum quota of overs will not be reduced to less than two.
Byes and leg-byes that come off a no-ball, will no longer be part of a no-balls, they will be counted separately.
For boundary catches, airborne fielders making their first contact with the ball, should have been from within the boundary lines, for a legitimate catch.
A catch, stumping or a run-out can be effected even if the ball bounces off from the helmet worn by the wicketkeeper or any fielder.