To make cricket more entertaining the International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced new rules and regulations for the game that will come into effect from 28 Sep 2017. The new rules will be in use for the first time on Thursday starting with the first Test between South Africa and Bangladesh, and the first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
ICC's Geoff Allardice on the restriction on bat sizes that comes into effect in international cricket from 28 September. @ICC pic.twitter.com/cMFDC15ThR
— ICC Media (@ICCMediaComms) September 26, 2017
Player can be sent off the field:
Now umpires will have the power to send a player off the field for the rest of the match for serious misconduct if found of level four offence, the most serious offence under the ICC’s code of conduct.
Those offenses include physical attacking or intimidating to assault another player, an umpire, the match referee or a spectator, or any act of violence on the field of play.
Transformation to the DRS system
The DRS system can now also be used in T20 internationals matches. Each team gets one review per innings.
For Tests, the current rule which allows use of reviews after 80 overs in Tests has been detached which means no more top-up reviews after 80 overs in Tests. Moreover teams won’t lose a review if decision remains unchanged on the basis of ‘umpires call’.
Bat size restrictions
The thickness of bats has now been limited. The edge of the bat can be no thicker than 40 millimeters (1.5 inches) and the on the whole depth of the bat no more than 67 millimeters (2.6 inches). Limitations on the length and width of bats were already in force and remain unchanged. Umpires will be given a “new bat gauge” to check if a bat is legal, the ICC said.
No-balls
As per new rules of ICC if a bowler who bowls deliberately front-foot no-ball is guilty of “unfair play” and will be disqualified for the rest of the innings.s. If a ball bowled bounces more than once before it gets to the batsman, it will be called a no-ball.
Ball striking to helmet
Ball caught after it strikes to helmet worn by wicketkeeper or fielder will be count as a catch. What is more a batsman can also be stumped or run out after the ball hits a helmet worn by a member of the fielding side.
Modifications in run-out and stumping rules
Batsman can’t be ruled run out even if bat is inadvertently raised during divining or running after he /she has grounded it once in the crease. Previously, batsmen could be out if the bat was in the air even if in his crease. The similar change applies to stumping.
Catch on the boundary
While taking a catch on the boundary, fielder must either be grounded within the boundary or his/her last contact with the ground before first touching the ball must have been within the boundary.
Tethered bails
“Tethered bails.” The bails can now be tethered to the stumps, limiting how far they fly off the stumps. The ICC said this is in retort to injuries sustained by wicket keepers. In 2012, South Africa wicket keeper Mark Boucher’s career was ended by a serious eye injury when a bail flew off the stumps and hit him in the eye. Host countries have been left with the decision whether or not to use tethered bails.
