Summary of the key changes There are still 42 Laws, although two previous Laws have been deleted, with two additions. The significant changes are: • The new Code of Laws is written in language applying to all persons, regardless of gender. The new Code includes an increased use of generic nouns like ‘fielder ‘and ‘bowler’ and uses ‘he/she’ when required, together with a broadened disclaimer covering all genders. The term ‘batsman’ remains, however. • The Handled the ball Law has been deleted, with its contents merged into Obstructing the field, reducing the list of dismissals from ten to nine. This will have no effect on whether a batsman is dismissed; rather, it is just the method of dismissal that might be changed. • The Lost ball Law has been deleted and is now covered under Dead ball. • The old Law 2 has been divided into two separate Laws, relating to the batsmen (Law 25) and the fielders (Law 24). These Laws have changed the concept of Penalty time, which starts to accrue immediately when a player leaves the field and which will also now affect when the player may bat, e.g. if a player is missing for the last 90 minutes of the opposition’s innings, he cannot bat until 90 minutes of his team’s innings have elapsed or five wickets have fallen; penalty time is capped at 90 minutes. • Law 5 (The Bat) places limits on the thickness of the edges and the overall depth of the bat. The maximum dimensions will be 108mm in width (unchanged), 67mm in depth with 40mm edges; (the depth restriction will only apply to us from 2020. • Law 8.4 has been changed, to help prevent injuries, to allow specially designed mechanisms which tether the bails to the stumps, thereby restricting the distance that they can fly off the stumps but without limiting their ability to be dislodged. • Law 24 (Fielders’ absence; substitutes) now allows a substitute to keep wicket, with the consent of the umpires. • Law 30 (Batsman out of his/her ground) has been amended to give protection to a running or diving batsman whose bat bounces up after having been grounded beyond the popping crease. • Law 41.8 now covers the bowling of deliberate front foot No balls, which will result in the bowler being suspended from bowling and reported. • Law 41.15 now prevents the batsman from taking stance in a position where he/she will inevitably encroach on the protected area. • Law 41.16 has changed so that the non-striker risks being Run out if he/she leaves his/her ground before the bowler would normally be expected to release the ball. • Law 42 (Player Conduct) is a new Law which gives an in-match consequence for poor on-field behaviour including, for the most serious offences, temporary or permanent removal from the field of play. There are now four levels of offence as follows: Level 1: Warning then 5 penalty runs to the opposition for a repeat offence. Level 2: 5 Penalty runs to the opposition. Level 3: Offending player is suspended for a number of overs, depending on the length of the match, plus 5 Penalty runs to the opposition. Level 4: Offending player is removed from the field for the rest of the match, plus 5 Penalty runs to the opposition. For full content; rules 41 and 42, need to be inspected closely, e.g. it is now a no ball for any full pitch delivery to pass the batsman at waist height irrespective of pace and will result in a first and final warning; any repeat will result in the immediate suspension of the bowler from the attack. Thanks to John Steel for the above information
