ICC announces new cricket rules, makes saliva ban permanent

The International Cricket Council (ICC) today announced several changes to its playing conditions that will come into effect from 1 October. The cricket governing body has also permanently banned the use of saliva to shine the ball. The T20 World Cup to be held in Australia next month will be the first major tournament to be played under the new conditions of the game.

The ICC had previously banned the use of saliva to shine the ball in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the custodian of cricket laws, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), in its amendment to the 2022 Code in March, banned its application altogether. was put.

“The ban has been in force in international cricket for more than two years as a COVID-related temporary measure and it is considered appropriate to make the ban permanent,” the ICC said in a statement.

notable changes

Batsmen returning when caught: When a batsman is caught out, the new batsman will come at the striker’s end, regardless of whether the batsman has crossed before taking the catch.

Incoming batsman ready to face the ball: An incoming batsman will now need to be ready to take a strike within two minutes in Tests and ODIs, while the current limit of ninety seconds in T20Is remains unchanged.

Striker’s right to play the ball: It is restricted so as to require some part of their bat or person to remain within the pitch. If they overtake, the umpire will call and signal a dead ball. Any ball which forces the batsman to leave the pitch is also called a no ball.

Improper movement by the fielding side: Any unreasonable and intentional movement by the bowler while running to bowl can result in the award of five penalty runs to the batting side, in addition to a dead ball to the umpire.

Running out of non-strikers: In moving this method of effecting run out from the ‘Unfair Play’ section to the ‘Run Out’ section, the playing conditions comply with the laws.

Bowler to throw towards striker’s end before delivery: Previously, a bowler who saw the batsman going under the wicket before entering his delivery stride could throw the ball in an attempt to run out the striker. This exercise will now be called a dead ball.

Other major decisions: an in-match penalty, introduced in T20Is in January 2022 (whereby a fielding team fails to bowl its overs by the stipulated end time, bringing an extra fielder inside the fielding circle for the remaining overs of the innings), Now after the completion of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League in 2023, ODI matches will also be adopted.

It was also decided that the playing conditions for all men’s and women’s ODI and T20I matches would be amended so that hybrid pitches could be used if agreed by both the teams. Currently, hybrid pitches can only be used in women’s T20I matches.

Originally published at Pen 18