Derek Rowley has kindly contributed this UNOFFICIAL first draft highlighting the changes and is still subject to proof-reading. He would welcome comments to derek@squareleg.freeserve.co.uk

Acumen Books accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions in this contribution but would appreciate notification of any problems that readers notice.   In particular, two items marked *** have been challenged and are being checked as at 25th July 2000.

The MCC Law revision in draft form is extensive.

It is extensive because virtually all the 42 Laws are affected to a greater or a lesser extent. These changes are in one of two forms. In the first case, the wording of many Laws has been changed, the purpose of which seems to be purely the interests of clarity. However, in the second case, not only has the wording been changed but the very substance of the Law has been amended in order to change the intention of the Law and , in some cases, to give the Laws concerned more force.

What follows is my own preview of the latter cases. I have assumed a good working knowledge of the Laws of cricket as they stand at the time of writing.

Emphasis is placed very strongly on the spirit and traditions of cricket. It is very much stressed that the Captain is completely responsible for seeing that at all times his team conduct themselves on the field in accordance with this spirit and with these traditions. The proposed revision now sets out to define those things which are contrary to both these. It stipulates that the following are not in the future to be regarded as acceptable and thus not to be tolerated.

• False appeals. These are appeals made against a batsman by the fielding side in the full knowledge that he is not out.

• Approaches to an umpire. This outlaws the practice of the making of approaches to an umpire which are aggressive in nature.

• Distraction of a batsman. It is contrary to proper practice to clap and shout excessively in the guise of enthusiasm or motivation.

• Decisions made by an umpire must not be disputed in any way.

• Teams must be nominated to one of the umpires before the toss.

• A deputy, who must be one of the nominated side, must take responsibility for seeing that this is done as well as taking the toss at the correct time if the Captain is not present to do so.

• The Captain. s responsibility for ensuring the proper conduct of his team in respect to traditions and spirit of the game is reiterated.

• Emphasis is placed on the nomination of teams as that operative when considering the use of substitutes.

• Apart from the use of substitutes * for the usual reasons of incapacity, the right to the use of substitutes for other reasons is now solely dependent on the decision of the umpires. If they feel that use of a substitute for other reason is justifiable they may grant permission for his use without recourse to the opinion of the opposing Captain.

• If a fielder leaves the field it is now imperative that the umpire is told why. Responsibility for this lies with the fielder or his Captain.

• The fielder may only return to the field by permission of the umpire.

• If a fielder returns without permission from the umpire and touches the ball, then the ball immediately and automatically becomes "dead". A penalty of 5 runs is awarded to the batting side and the process of informing the Captain of the fielding side and the batsmen at the wickets of what has happened and why is gone through. The Captain of the batting side will be informed similarly as soon as practicable.

• A runner must carry a bat.

• The commencement of a batsman. s innings is defined. It is when he steps on to the field of play. If, however, "Time" had been called before he entered the field, his innings will only commence on the call of "Play".

• The umpires SHALL attend at the ground at LEAST 45 minutes before the scheduled start.

• A replacement umpire may be used in cases of illness or injury or other exceptional circumstances. Unless both Captains agree to his assuming full responsibility the replacement umpire will only serve as striker. s end umpire.

• The following are now stipulated as pre-match duties for the umpires. Those marked with an asterisk must be discussed with the scorers also :

• The wicket keeper. s gloves are to be inspected to see that they comply with regulations.

• Either side may appeal against the conditions as they apply to ground and weather. Only if these conditions have deteriorated or are the same since an agreement to continue play was made will the umpires uphold the appeal.

• The umpires may suspend or not resume play if they feel conditions to be such that there is a foreseeable and obvious risk of injury.

• The criterion for safety of footing now applies to ALL fielders and not only close fielders.

• It is a MINIMUM requirement for the umpires to verify correctness of scores with the scorers at intervals, other than those for drinks, and at the close of play.

• There are 5 new signals.

• The scorers must acknowledge each signal given SEPARATELY.

• The ball shall be in the umpires' possession BEFORE the toss.

• The ball must be given to the umpires at the fall of each wicket and at every interval or interruption.

• Covering material on a bat shall not cause any damage to the ball.

• The bat is defined; it includes the hand of the batsman if he is not wearing gloves or the WHOLE of the GLOVE if this is the case. There is no mention of the wrist.

• The stumps shall be cylindrical.

• The diameter of the stumps to be < 1.375 and > 1.5 inches.

• The bails must fit so as to leave the stumps vertical.

• The dimensions of the bails to be as follows :

d) short spigot : 13/16 ins.

• If it is decided to dispense with bails because of problems at one end, then they shall also be removed from the other.

• Creases shall be marked in white.

• Sweeping of the pitch must take place before rolling. This is to avoid debris being rolled into the pitch and causing damage.

• Debris must be swept from the pitch at intervals in play. Before a day. s play, this must be done no more than 30 and no later than 10 minutes before play actually takes place.

• If the umpires consider that sweeping will be detrimental to the pitch surface, they should not allow it to take place.

• Creases must be remarked whenever the umpires consider it necessary.

• The ground authority shall ensure that the umpires and the Captains are able to inspect the pitch before the teams are to be nominated.
• In the absence of agreement to the contrary, the pitch shall not be covered. However, in this case, covers shall not be allowed to trespass more than five feet in front of the popping crease. Whenever possible, the bowlers. run-ups shall be covered.

• A completed innings is now defined. It is complete in any of the following circumstances:

• For the purposes of this Law, play will be deemed to have begun when the call of "Play" has been made and the over has begun.

• A Captain may now forfeit EITHER innings.

• Intervals are now defined. This definition now includes the time between close of play on one day and the start of play on the next.

• The interval for drinks must be agreed by both umpires and both Captains before the toss and no later than 10 minutes before play on subsequent days.

• There will be no further play on a day on which an innings ends with 10 minutes or less remaining of the day. s play.

• The lunch interval will not be at the previously agreed time if an innings ends within 10 minutes or less of it. It shall be of the previously agreed LENGTH.

• The same will apply if play is suspended within 10 minutes or less of the lunch interval.

• If the players have occasion to leave the field with more than 10 minutes remaining to the lunch interval, then, SUBJECT TO AGREEMENT BY BOTH UMPIRES AND CAPTAINS, lunch will be at the previously agreed time.

• It is now possible for an alternative time for drinks to be arranged. If there is a stoppage in play for ANY reason, within 30 minutes of the drinks interval, then the umpires and Captains MAY agree another drinks interval.

• The scorers must be notified of any changes made to interval timings.

• An interruption is now defined. It begins at the call of time and ends when the umpires decide AT WHAT TIME play WILL begin.

• There shall be no practice on any match day on the area of the square which is parallel with and immediately adjacent to the pitch.

• There shall be no practice on the SQUARE on any match day, other than before play begins or when play has stopped for that day.

• Practice must cease at least 30 minutes before that start of play.

• The umpires are empowered to ban any practice if they consider it to be detrimental to the surface of the square or if it will constitute a waste of time.

• Any contravention of either of the first two sections above will mean that a bowler may not bowl again until five overs have been bowled by someone else.

• If the transgression occurs during an over, then the offending bowler may not complete that over and nor shall that part of an over count as one of the five to be bowled as referred to in the above section.

• The procedure to be followed in the case of DELIBERATE short running.

1. When the ball is dead, caution the batsman in terms which tell him that this practice is unfair. Inform his colleague.

2. Return the batsmen to their original ends and instruct the scorers to

   Credit no runs to the batting side, other than for No Ball or Wide or

   Penalties under 42.4 or 42.11.

3. Inform the scorers of the number of runs to be scored.

4. If the offence occurs again, the procedure in (ii) above should be

   repeated and then bowler. s end umpire will credit 5 penalty runs to

   The fielding side.

5. The scorers must be informed of the number of runs to be scored.

• Flags, boards or posts which are not themselves a boundary should be placed outside the boundary itself.

• Any solid object which DOES constitute a boundary must have an edge or line which will thus be the boundary.

• Any penalty runs awarded under the Laws, including No Ball and Wide Ball shall be credited ALONG WITH the boundary scored.

• The above stipulation applies to boundaries from either overthrow or a wilful act.

• If an umpire believes that an action by any member of a side constitutes a refusal to play, then he and his colleague must investigate to ascertain whether this view is correct. If so, then the Captain of the side concerned will be spoken to and if, then, the action continues, the umpires shall award the match to the other side.

• The time lost because of this investigation shall be added to the time for play to continue at the end of the day. Overs to be bowled in the last hour shall not be deducted because of this. The time shall be added following the bowling of the last 20 overs, if applicable.

• The start of an over is now is now defined as being when the bowler begins either his run up or his bowling action.

• An extra clarification is added to a situation in which the ball becomes "dead" without a call. It is "dead" if it becomes trapped between the bat and the person of a batsman.

• If the umpire considers it necessary for the players. information, he may call it "Dead" even though it is deemed to have become "dead" automatically.

• If the batsman is not ready for an acceptable reason to receive the ball but it is, nonetheless, delivered and the batsman does not attempt to play it, the umpire shall call it "Dead".

• If the striker is distracted by any noise or movement, no matter what, and the umpire considers it a distraction, he shall call "Dead ball".

• It is now incumbent upon the umpire to ascertain from the bowler his action and to inform the batsman of it.

• It is not legal to bowl underarm unless prior agreement to do so is reached

• If the delivery is unfair by virtue of the arm action being such as is defined as a throw, EITHER umpire shall call and signal, "No ball ". The procedure of CAUTION, FINAL WARNING,ACTION and REPORTING will then take place as necessary.

• The definition of a throw is defined as follows: "if, once the bowler. s arm has reached the level of the shoulder in the delivery swing" the elbow joint is then straightened this is unfair.

• Two further occurrences which necessitate a call and signal of "No ball" are instanced:

1. If the ball, HAVING BEEN DELIVERED,bounces twice or

   rolls along the ground.

2. Comes to rest in front of the wicket without contact with the

• The penalty for bowling the no ball shall count ALONG WITH any other runs made or awarded.

• They shall be debited against the bowler, except for those runs awarded as 5 run penalties.

• The definition of a Wide ball has been clarified. The ball is "wide" if it passes beyond the striker. s reach both from where he is standing and also from where he stands in his normal guard position.

• It is also a "wide" if it is outside the reach of a normal cricket stroke.

• The penalty for bowling a "wide ball" shall count in addition to any other runs scored or awarded and shall be debited against the bowler.

• If leg byes result from a "no ball" then the penalty from the "no ball" will be awarded along with the runs so made.

• The Law now stipulates that in case of doubt and if consultation is necessary, then an umpire SHALL consult his colleague.

• The Law now defines what is a batsman. s ground. It is the ground of him who is nearer to it. If they the batsmen are level, then it belongs to him who was nearer to it before they drew level.

• Any mention of his "bat in hand" is now omitted {*** this comment under review ***} because the hand holding the bat has earlier ( Law 5 ) been defined as being a part of the bat. In effect, the hand and the piece of wood are now inseparable from each other !

• There is now no mention of the circumstance under which a batsman was out, bowled, if , in certain situations he hit or kicked the ball on to his wicket and put it down.

• The time limit under this Law is changed from the previous 2 minutes to 3 minutes.

• The commencement of the batsman. s innings for the purposes of this Law is changed. The batsman must be in position at the crease to receive the ball to be bowled to him or for his partner to do so.

• There is now no mention of the causes for a batsman. s late arrival at the wicket. There are no extenuating circumstances and no inquiry has to be made by the umpires into the cause.

• An extra stipulation has been added to the Law. The ball must not have been in contact with any member of the fielding side before it hits the bat.

• There is clarification of that part of the Law which previously referred to "and remain within the field of play& " The words now used to define this are"& and over his own movement."

• This is emphasised by implication in the stipulation under which 6 runs would be awarded to the batting side because of a fielder. s contact with or stepping over the boundary. The 6 would only be awarded if the fielder had not completed the catch, i.e. if he had not moved on to to over the boundary of his own volition.

• Under this Law, if a batsman returns the ball to the fielding side by using his hand, he will not be out Handled the Ball: he will be out Obstructing the field.

• Similarly, under this Law, if a batsman uses his bat to return the ball to the fielding side uninvited, he will also be out, Obstructing the Field.

• There is the added stipulation that the batsman may, with impunity, strike the ball a second time if it has previously been touched by a fielder.

• Runs may only be scored from overthrows from a legal second stroke.

• However, only the FIRST strike shall determine whether the runs may be made. Such runs would only be permissible under those circumstances which govern the legality or otherwise of leg byes or if the ball hit the bat at the first contact.

• These runs shall be counted as follows:

1. If the batsmen have started to run before the overthrow is made, then only if they have NOT crossed on this first run will it and any subsequent runs count.

2. If the batsmen HAVE crossed at the instant of this throw, then ONLY subsequent runs will count.

3. As far as boundaries are concerned, then if the batsmen had NOT crossed when the overthrow was made, only the boundary 4 shall count.

4. If the batsmen do not attempt to run but the ball reaches the boundary, the umpire shall call and signal,"Dead ball" and the runs will not be allowed.

5. If the batsmen are attempting to run as in circumstances similar to those covered by the running of illegal leg byes, then the umpire will carry out the similar procedure of waiting for one "run" to be completed and then calling and signalling "Dead ball" and returning the batsmen to their original ends.

• If the batsman has made no attempt to play the ball and then immediately sets off for a run and puts down his wicket in any way which is stipulated under this Law, then he shall be out on appeal, but ONLY IF the umpire considers that the putting down of the wicket took place immediately after the batsman could have played at the ball. The word "immediate" is the paramount one.

• There is now one important provision to the Law. If the ball was intercepted full pitch and would have gone on to hit the wicket, umpires must now assume that the ball would have continued along the same path. There is now to be no conjecture about what might have happened had the ball been able to pitch.

• Those actions which would previously have rendered the batsman out either Handled the Ball or Hit the ball Twice now come under the Law of Obstructing the Field. Returning the ball in any way, uninvited, to the fielding side will now render the batsman out in this way.

• A batsman may now be dismissed in the proper circumstances from a No ball, whether he is attempting to run or not.

• It is stipulated that even though a batsman may not be run out from a ball which rebounds directly on to the stumps, nonetheless, the ball REMAINS in play.

• The role of the wicketkeeper is defined by implication. It is recognised that certain matters make the wicketkeeper a player who is not governed by the strictures of his fellow fielders. The Law now says that if by either his actions or his positioning he departs from his normal role as a wicketkeeper then he shall not be recognised as such and so shall not be allowed the privileges which automatically go to that position..
• The pattern which goes to make up a legal wicketkeeper. s glove have now been defined. There shall be only a single piece of material between the fingers of the glove and that which goes between the first finger and the thumb shall not constitute a pouch.

• A fieldsman may not wear external leg guards.
• In the event of illegal fielding, the Law is extended. As well as the previous provisions of 5 runs awarded to the batting side, the incident must now be reported to the Executive of the fielding side and that governing the match.
• The provision governing the awarding of leg byes remains. The principle of not allowing these runs, even in the case of illegal fielding, is reiterated.
• Before a fair ball reaches the striker it is now illegal for a fielder to make "significant" changes in his position. In the case of a close fielder, only the very smallest adjustments would be permissible and for the deep fielders any movement off line or away from the batsman any other than the slightest changes would be regarded as significant and unfair.

• It is probably true to say that this Law is that which has been subject to most change. Whilst it remains the case that the process generally referred to as Caution, Final warning, Action (where appropriate) and Reporting stay in place, the process has been extended to include things not previously covered by it : (2,3,4,11,12,14 and 15 below). The major change is the awarding of penalty runs in certain cases of infrimgement.

1. FAIR/UNFAIR PLAY.

   The scope of this definition is now widened: it includes anything which is not specifically covered in the Laws.

2. THE BALL

• The replacement ball to be used is now solely the choice of the umpires.

• An immediate award of 5 penalty runs will be made to the batting side when the ball needs to be changed.

• The matter will be reported to the Executives concerned (that Governing the match and that of the fielding or batting side as the case might be ).

• If the ball is unfairly tampered with a second time then the bowler will be suspended from bowling for that innings.

1. DELIBERATE DISTRACTION OF A BATSMAN.

• In the first case, the umpire shall immediately call/signal, "Dead ball" and warn the Captain of the fielding side and indicate that this is also the final warning.

• If it occurs again, then the process of reporting must be initiated as appropriate and an award of 5 penalty runs made to the batting side. In neither case may a batsman be dismissed from that delivery, nor will it count in the over.

1. In the second case, the umpire will repeat the calling of "Dead ball" but the award of 5 penalty runs shall be made immediately along with any run in progress at the time. The reporting to the Executives concerned will also take place.

2. DANGEROUS AND UNFAIR BOWLING.

• The bowling of fast and short-pitched deliveries is deemed to be dangerous if it is likely to cause injury and is thus unfair. It is defined as bowling which passes or would pass above head height of the striker standing upright at his crease. If it is such as not to threaten physical injury then it is unfair nonetheless and is not to be permitted.

• The case of the full pitched delivery is subject to two criteria: if the delivery is, in the umpire. s opinion, fast and would pass above waist height of the striker it is both dangerous and unfair. The same is true even if the delivery is slow, but, in this case, it must be such as would pass above shoulder height of the striker.

• Sanctions for time wasting are now two-fold. If a Captain allows his side to waste time when an over is NOT in progress, the umpire will warn him and indicate that this is the final warning. If the offence occurs again then , if it not during the course of an over, 5 penalty runs shall be awarded to the batting side. If it IS during the course of an over, then the bowler must be taken off forthwith.

• In both cases the matter is to be reported to the two Executives concerned with the match.

9. BATSMAN WASTING TIME.

• It is now stated as a part of this Law that the batsman must, usually, be ready to receive the ball when the bowler is ready to deliver it.

• If a batsman wastes time, the umpire must warn him, making clear that this is the final warning.

• If the batsman repeats the offence then the umpire will award 5 penalty runs to the fielding side.

• The process of informing and reporting as above will then be gone through.

• It is now deemed to commence 5 feet in front of the popping crease. The other dimensions remaining the same as at present.

11. PITCH DAMAGE BY A FIELDER.

• In the first instance of pitch damage by a fielder the umpire will warn the Captain of the fielding side when the ball is dead. This will be the final

• warning and a repetition will incur a penalty of 5 runs to the batting side. The process of informing and reporting will be gone through as elsewhere in Law 42.

12.PITCH DAMAGE BY A BATSMAN.

• In the first instance, the umpire must warn the batsman when the ball is dead.

• In the case of a repetition, the umpire shall disallow any runs from that delivery and inform the batsman that this is a final warning.

• Any further instance will incur the above penalty but also the award of 5 penalty runs to the fielding side.

• The process of informing and reporting to the Executives concerned will also be gone through.

13. BOWLER ATTEMPTING TO RUN OUT THE NON-STRIKER.

• "Before delivering the ball" is defined here. Any attempt to run out the non-striker must take place before the bowler enters his delivery stride. Now, however, no opportunity to score runs can occur here. Instead the umpire must call/signal, "Dead ball" as soon as an unsuccessful to run out the batsman occurs.

14. BATSMAN ATTEMPTING TO STEAL A RUN.

• To the present action is added that of the award of 5 penalty runs to the fielding side. The process of reporting and informing must be undertaken.

15. THE AWARDING OF PENALTY RUNS.

• As with other signals to the scorers, the signal for the awarding of penalty runs must only take place when the ball is dead.

• They shall not be credited to any category except their own of PENALTY EXTRAS.

• The batsman shall not change end solely as a result of penalty runs awards.

• When awarded to the fielding side, they are to be added to the total of runs made in their previous innings.

16. PLAYERS. CONDUCT.

• In the case of breach of proper conduct by a player the Captain of the fielding side will be required to deal with the matter. The Captain must be reminded that the offence is so grave as to be worthy of reporting to the Executives concerned without any further warning.

ADDENDUM.

The numbering of the Laws.

The Laws are numbered and titled as they are at present with the following exceptions.

1. Law 15 now refers to the intervals in play.

2. Law 16 now refers to the start and cessation of play.

3. Law 17 is now about practice on the field.

4. Law 10 is now known under the more generic title of preparation and maintenance of the playing area.

Derek Rowley has kindly contributed this above first draft and is still subject to proof-reading. He would welcome comments to derek@squareleg.freeserve.co.uk

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