HAMILTON and District Cricket Association (HDCA) begins its 2022-23 season with players, umpires and supporters having to quickly become accustomed to new laws that have been introduced to all levels of the game as of October 1.
The custodians of the laws of cricket, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), announced earlier this year that some new laws would be introduced for all levels, from juniors through to Test cricket.
Law 1: Replacement players
The introduction of a new clause, Law 1.3, explains that replacements are to be treated as if they were the player they replaced, inheriting any sanctions or dismissals that player has done in that match.
Law 18: Batters returning when caught
When a batter is out caught, the new batter shall come in at the end the striker was at, i.e., to face the next ball (unless it is the end of an over).
Law 20.4.2.12: Dead ball
The new edition sees several changes to the dead ball law, the most significant of which is the calling of dead ball if either side is disadvantaged by a person, animal or other object within the field of play.
From a pitch invader to a dog running onto the field, sometimes there is outside interference — if this is the case, and it has a material impact on the game, the umpires will call and signal dead ball.
Law 21.4: Bowler throwing towards striker’s end before delivery
If a bowler throws the ball, in an attempt to run out the striker before entering their delivery stride, it will now be dead ball.
This is an extremely rare scenario, which has until now been called as a no ball.
Law 22.1 – Judging a wide
In the modern game, batters are, more than ever, moving laterally around the crease before the ball is bowled.
It was felt unfair that a delivery might be called a wide if it passes where the batter had stood as the bowler entered his/her delivery stride.
Therefore, Law 22.1 has been amended so that a wide will apply to where the batter is standing, where the striker has stood at any point since the bowler began their run up, and which would also have passed wide of the striker in a normal batting position.
Law 25.8: Striker’s right to play the ball
If the ball should land away from the pitch, the new Law 25.8 allows the striker to play the ball so long as some part of their bat or person remains within the pitch, but should they venture beyond that, the umpire will call and signal dead ball.
As recompense to the batter, any ball which would force them to leave the pitch will also be called no ball.
Law 38.3: Moving the running out of the non-striker
Law 41.16 -– running out the non-striker.
It has been moved from Law 41 (Unfair play) to Law 38 (Run out). The wording of the Law remains the same.
Law 41.3: No saliva
When cricket resumed following the onset of COVID-19, playing conditions were written in most forms of the game stating that applying saliva to the ball was no longer permitted.
MCC’s research found that this had little or no impact on the amount of swing the bowlers were getting.
Players were using sweat to polish the ball, and this was equally effective.
The new laws will not permit the use of saliva on the ball, which also removes any grey areas of fielders eating sugary sweets to alter their saliva to apply to the ball.
Using saliva will be treated the same way as any other unfair methods of changing the condition of the ball.
The HDCA voted to accept the new Laws at its AGM back in August plus, on a request from the umpires, all games in the men’s competitions will begin at 1pm.
The traditional afternoon tea during the innings break will return after a two-season hiatus.
