The (Marylebone Cricket Club) MCC has made several changes to the laws of the game, including a permanent ban on using saliva to shine the ball
Until now, ‘mankading’ was treated as an unfair dismissal mode but it has now been moved to Law 38 which concerns run-outs. The wording of the law, however, remains unchanged.
“Since the publication of the 2017 Code of the Laws of Cricket, many changes have been made to the game. The 2nd edition of that Code, published in 2019, was mostly clarification and minor amendments, but the 2022 Code makes some rather bigger changes,” said MCC Laws Manager Fraser Steward.
The statement from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) explains that a permanent ban on saliva on the ball has been put in place because of new Laws which prohibit any methods of altering the condition of the ball.
The ICC has now accepted these changes and it is up to the national cricket associations to either accept them or protest. Most suggestions made by the MCC are usually accepted without any change, but this time there may be some protests.
ALSO READ | Chennai Super Kings Begin Training In Surat, Get Rousing Reception From Fans – Watch
Here is the list of changes suggested made by the MCC:
Laws 27.4 and 28.6 – Unfair movement by the fielding side
Until now, any member of the fielding side who moved unfairly was punished only with a ‘Dead ball’. However, given the action is both unfair and deliberate, it will now see the batting side awarded 5 Penalty runs.
Law 38.3 – moving the running out of the non-striker
Law 41.16 – running out the non-striker – has been moved from Law 41 (Unfair play) to Law 38 (Runout). The wording of the Law remains the same.
Law 41.3 – No saliva
Following the onset of Covid-19, cricket playing conditions were written in most forms of the game stating that players are no longer permitted to apply saliva to the ball. MCC’s research found that this had little or no impact on the amount of swing bowlers were getting. Players have been using sweat to polish the ball and this is equally effective.
The new laws will not permit the use of saliva on the ball, which removes any grey areas of fielders’ abilities to alter their saliva in order to improve the condition of the ball. Using saliva will be treated equally with any other unfair method used to change the condition ofthe ball.
Law 1 – Replacement players
A new clause, Law 1.3, has been introduced that explains that replacements are to be treated as if they were the player they replaced, inheriting any sanctions or dismissals that the player has done in that match.
Law 18 – Batters returning when Caught
When a batter is out Caught, the new batter shall come in at the end of the striker’s position, which is to face the next ball (unless it is the end of an over).
Law 20.4.2.12 – Dead ball
The Dead ball Law has been amended in the new edition of the rules, specifically to allow for a call if one team is disadvantaged by a person, animal or other object within the field of play. From a pitch invader to a dog running onto the field, sometimes there is outside interference – if this is the case, and it has a material impact on the game, the umpires will call and signal Dead ball.
Law 21.4
If a bowler throws the ball before they have crossed the delivery stride, it will now be called a Dead ball. This is an extremely rare scenario, which has until now been called a No ball.
22.1
Judging a Wide In the modern game, batters are, more than ever, moving laterally around the crease before the ball is bowled. It was felt unfair that delivery might be called ‘Wide’ if it passes where the batter had stood as the bowler entered his/her delivery stride. Therefore, Law
22.1 has been amended so that a Wide will apply to where the batter is standing, where the striker has stood at any point since the bowler began their run-up, and which would also have passed wide of the striker in a normal batting position.
ALSO READ
IPL 2022 Schedule: CSK Time Table, date and venues
Virat Kohli Unlikely To Be Back As RCB Captain: Vettori
Tata IPL 2022 Schedule – Full-Time Table, Team, Venue & Much More Of IPL 2022
