Newest Rules Of Cricket, Including ‘Red Cards’ And ‘Bat Sizes’

It was once said that ‘umpire’s decision in cricket is the last decision.’ Then they introduced the ‘Decision Referral System’ or the DRS, where the players had the freedom to recheck the on-field umpire’s call with the use of technology. The third umpire had a huge role to play in going with the original decision or overturning the decision, all depending upon what the replays suggest.

Recently, in spite of all such facilities for the players, umpires have found themselves being involved in a heated conversation with the players. There are some which refuse to accept the umpire’s decision and some try to offer advice to the umpires about the probable way the ball had behaved.

For these, the MCC or Marylebone Cricket Club has brought in a Code of Law, which could be put to action from October 2017. These laws include Red Cards for the umpires and the appropriate size of the bats that players could possess to play.  

Poor Behavior: You Get Red Card

The Red Card rule which the game of soccer has been implementing since ages is now to be inculcated in the game of cricket too. These are to eliminate the poor behavior of the players with the on-field umpires and contribute to the already possessed respect of the umpires.

There are basically four levels of offences that umpires could judge, based on the words or actions of the players. Depending on these, umpires could punish the players according to the following rules:

·         Level One Breach: The Level One Breach is basically a form of warning that the umpires could offer for actions such as excessive appealing or showing disagreement with the umpire’s decision, other than DRS. On the first instance, the umpire would leave the player with a warning, but could impose a penalty of 5 runs to the team on second instance.

·         Level Two Breach: The Level Two Breach includes the action of a player throwing the ball deliberately at some player or an intentional physical contact with some player. The umpires could immediately impose a penalty of 5 runs on the concerned team.

·         Level Three Breach: The Level Three Breach offence includes threatening an umpire or an intimidating attack on the umpire or a spectator by some player. The umpires could immediately impose a penalty of 5 runs, including the removal of player from the field for the designated number of overs.

·         Level Four Breach: The Level Four Breach or Offence includes any assault on the umpire or any act of hostility on the field. This would lead to the immediate dismissal of the player altogether from the remaining game. If the player has been batting, he would be offered ‘retired out’ by the umpire.

These are the stringent rules of behavior which are to be put to action soon. The rules could more be due to the misbehavior of Indian and Australian players in the recent, second test between the two teams in India.

Bat Sizes:

The size of the bats that players use could also be scrutinized according to the new bylaws. The permissible size would include the maximum of 108 mm width, depth of 67 mm and edges of 40 mm.

The former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting has pointed out once of the players using bats more than 50 mm in edge, which was a matter of deep concern for the game. Rectifying this, the umpires could use a bat gauge at the international level to be certain of the size of the bats used. However, the players could be offered a certain time limit to get in with the new laws and change their bats as stipulated.

According to Mr. John Stephenson, the member of MCC, "The bat size issue has been heavily scrutinized and discussed in recent years." "We believe the maximum dimensions we have set will help redress the balance between bat and ball, while still allowing the explosive, big hitting we all enjoy," he added.

New Rules For Run-Outs:

You might wonder that restriction of bat sizes could really make the life of some of the hard-hitting batsmen tough. However, the new rules have something in the favor of batsmen too. These are the new bylaws of run-outs, which say that a player would not be given out if he or she has crossed the stipulated mark with his/her bat grounded, but the bat rebounds in the air in momentum, when the stumps are hit.

According to the statement issued by MCC, "If the bat (held by the hand) or another part of the batsman's person is grounded beyond the popping crease and this contact with the ground is subsequently lost when the wicket is put down, the batsman will be protected from being run-out if he/she is running or diving and has continued forward momentum towards the stumps and beyond."

Running-Out A Non-Striker:

According to the prior rules of the ICC, the bowler could attempt to run a batsman out, even before a legal delivery is bowled and he/she is found standing out of the crease, provided the bowler has not completed his delivery swing. But according to the rules by MCC, the run-out attempt has to take place even before the bowler enters his delivery stride.

As per the latest MCC norms, the bowler could attempt to run-out a batsman at any point of his stride until the ball is released from his hand.

Number Of Dismissals In The Game:

The old book of rules had a set of 10 ways by the batsmen could be called out during the course of play.  This has been now reduced to 9 by the MCC as ‘Handling the ball’ charge on batsman is integrated with ‘Obstructing the field’ call by the umpire.

The laws offered lately have been written in a language that does not indicate a specific gender. This could be more to contribute to the increasing reputation of women’s cricket around the world. Click here to read more about latest sport news.