The ICC refines the Playing Conditions.

 

The ICC has announced a slew of amendments to the Playing Conditions that will take effect on October 1, 2022.


In the updated 3rd Edition of the 2017 Code of the Laws of Cricket, the Men's Cricket Committee, led by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, recommended revisions to the Playing Conditions.


The findings were also presented to the Women's Cricket Committee, who approved the recommendations.


The revised Playing Conditions will take effect on October 1, 2022, which means that the new regulations will be enforced at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in Australia next month.


The following are the major changes: 

Batters returning when caught:Whether or not the batters crossed before the catch was made, when a batter is out Caught, the next batter enters where the end the striker was.


Previously, if the batters crossed the plate before a catch was made, the next batter would be at the non-end striker's and the non-striker would take the next pitch.

 Use of saliva to polish the ball:It is thought suitable for the restriction to be made permanent as it has been in effect in international cricket for more than two years as a temporary Covid-related precaution.


The COVID-19 epidemic had made it necessary to enforce the prohibition on viral transmission on the field.
When cricket resumed after a hiatus in July 2020, the rule was in effect; it will now become a permanent norm.
When saliva was prohibited, the players turned to sweat, which worked well to shine the ball.

Incoming batter ready to face the ball:In Tests and ODIs, an incoming batter must now be prepared to take a strike within two minutes; in T20 Internationals, the current time limit of 90 seconds applies.


In ODIs and Tests, the entering batter now has two minutes to take a strike, down from three.
If they don't, the fielding captain may request a timeout. 

Striker’s right to play the ball:This is limited such that some portion of their bat or person must remain within the pitch.
If they go any further, the umpire will call and signal Dead ball.
Any ball that forces the batter to leave the pitch is sometimes referred to as a No ball.

Unfair movement by the fielding side: Any unfair or purposeful movement when the bowler is running in to bowl may now result in the umpire awarding the batting side five penalty runs in addition to a call of Dead ball. 

Running out of the non-striker:  The Playing Conditions, in accordance with the Laws, move this method of effecting a Run out from the 'Unfair Play' section to the 'Run out' section.


Running out a non-striker for backing up too much, which was previously considered unfair play, will now be regarded a standard run-out. 

Bowler throwing towards striker’s end before delivery:Previously, a bowler might toss the ball to try to run out the striker if they spotted the batter advance down the wicket before commencing their delivery stride.
This is now known as a Dead ball practise. 

Other major decisions:After the completion of the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup Super League in 2023, the in-match penalty introduced in T20Is in January 2022 (in which failure of a fielding team to bowl their overs by the scheduled cessation time results in an additional fielder being brought inside the fielding circle for the remaining overs of the innings) will now be implemented in ODI matches.


The rule has already been adopted and has cost teams games due to sluggish over rates, with the second match of the 2022 Asia Cup between India and Pakistan being an example.


Ganguly thanked all members of the ICC Cricket Committee for their contributions to the recommendations. "It was an honour to lead my first ICC Cricket Committee meeting," he remarked.


"I was delighted with the Committee members' productive contributions, which resulted in crucial suggestions being made.


"I'd want to thank everyone for their great suggestions and input." 

The ICC Cricket Committee:

Sourav Ganguly (Chair); Ramiz Raja (Observer); Mahela Jayawardena and Roger Harper (Past Players); Daniel Vettori and VVS Laxman (Representatives of Current Players); Gary Stead (Member Team Coach Representative); Jay Shah (Full Members’ Representative); Joel Wilson (Umpires’ Representative); Ranjan Madugalle (ICC Chief Referee); Jamie Cox (MCC Representative); Kyle Coetzer (Associate Representative); Shaun Pollock (Media Representative); Greg Barclay and Geoff Allardice (Ex Officio - ICC Chair and Chief Executive); Clive Hitchcock (Committee Secretary); David Kendix (Statistician).