In what is a major change in how cricket, the traditional gentleman’s game, is played, on field umpires will have the authority, like their football counterparts, to send off players who have committed serious breaches of behaviour. This will be part of the new laws of cricket that will come into effect from October 1 this year, confirmed Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
Read more | India vs Australia, second Test, Day 4 live updates
The new laws are based on the recommendations of the MCC Cricket Committee which had a meeting in Mumbai last December.
“We felt the time had come to introduce sanctions for poor player behaviour and research told us that a growing number of umpires at grass roots level were leaving the game because of it,” John Stephenson, the MCC’s head of cricket, was quoted by PTI.
“Hopefully these sanctions will give them more confidence to handle disciplinary issues efficiently, whilst providing a deterrent to the players,” added Stephenson.
Read more | Anurag Thakur, former BCCI president, apologises to Supreme Court
According to reports, the MCC has also prescribed restrictions on bat sizes besides a change in the run out law which is meant to protect the batsman whose bat has bounced in the air once they have crossed the crease.
“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.”
{{/usCountry}}“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.”
{{/usCountry}}