Cricket is all set to do a new avatar with a whole new set of rules that will be implemented from September 28. Some of the newly introduced rules were the need of the hour while others are less significant. There are a couple of controversial ones as well.
All these are set to come into force on September 28, 2017, and will be applicable for India vs Australia 4th ODI, South Africa vs Bangladesh test series and Pakistan vs Sri Lanka test series. A lot of these have been chalked in response to Marylebone Cricket Club”s code of laws which was introduced this March.
“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.” ICC general manager of cricket Geoff Allardice said.
Finally, a step has been taken to curb the size of bats, an issue which was a hot topic for cricket experts to debate over. Umpires will now have an authority to send players off the field for misbehavior either temporarily or permanently.
The DRS, however, will now be used in a totally different way. No more captains will have to worry about losing a review on umpire”s call. DRS may be introduced in T20 cricket as well, with one review per side.
Batsmen will no longer be run out if their bats are in the air in an attempt to put in a dive to get back in the crease. Also, fielders now need not worry about their protective gear as a batsman will be out even if the ball hits fielder”s helmet before the fielder takes the catch.
The detailed list of rules is as follows:
Now onwards the edges of the bat cannot exceed 40 mm. The depth of the bat is restricted to 67mm and width to be no more than 108mm.
2) No losing review on umpire”s call
Fielding captains will no longer lose a review if the decision is turned down because of umpire”s call. However, the reviews won”t be reset after 80 overs of a test match. DRS may be implemented in T20s as well.
3) Red cards in cricket
Just like football, players can be now sent off the field by umpires either temporarily or throughout the remainder of the game because of misbehavior.
4) Tethered bails
Tethered bails i.e. bail connected using a string may be introduced in cricket at some point in time in future. This move has been made taking into account the career-ending eye injury suffered by Mark Boucher when a bail went into his eye.
5) New form of no ball
A no-ball will be called if a ball bounces more than once. The free hit will be given next ball.
6) “Bouncing bat” run outs
A batsman will no longer be given out if he puts in a dive and his bat bounces and is in the air even though he is in the crease and a run out has been affected.
7) Fielders distracting batsmen
A fielder will be penalized for distracting a batsman in a bid to divert his attention.
8) Recalling the batter
A batter can be recalled by an umpire or an appeal may be withdrawn by the fielding team even if the batter has left the field.
9) Handled the ball
Handled the ball is no longer a separate dismissal. Henceforth it is a part of Obstructing the Field
10) Protect the Protected Area
A batsman can no longer take a strike in the protected area of pitch repeatedly just like a bowler cannot follow through on protected area repeatedly.
11) Byes and Leg byes on no ball to be counted separately
Byes and Leg byes on no ball to be counted separately. It won”t be added to bowler”s figures anymore.
12) Number of substitutes
The number of named substitutes in international matches has been increased from 4 to 6.
13) Breaks in play
Tea break or lunch will be taken early if a wicket falls 3 minutes before the scheduled break as opposed to 2 mins.
14) No. of overs in a Rain-curtailed game
In a rain-curtailed game below 10 overs (essentially a T20 since the minimum number of overs to constitute an ODI is 20) a bowler”s quota won”t be shortened below 2 overs.
15) Airborne fielders
Airborne fielders making contact with the ball need to be within the boundary.
16) Deliberately bowling no ball
A bowler deemed to be deliberately bowling a no-ball will be suspended from bowling in remaining part of the game. This is a controversial rule as it is very difficult on part of umpire to prove that a bowler is deliberately bowling no balls.
– by Atharva Apte
