Changes to the terms of play for all formats have been implemented in the new year; some of these may not have been properly publicized. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken a notable stand against a long-standing player exploit.
This rule change relates to the umpire’s evaluation of a stumping; it will no longer evaluate the caught-behind situation and will only consider side-on replays. Players have often pleaded for stumping, therefore guaranteeing a review for a caught-behind appeal, since a successful stumping appeal spares the fielding team from using a review.
The Australian team, which included wicketkeeper Alex Carey behind the stumps, made multiple stumping appeals during the last home series against Australia last year. This resulted in a review of the caught-behind appeal without the need to employ the Decision Review System (DRS). From now on, stumping appeals will only display replays from the side-on cameras, thus a fielding side will need to use a review for a caught-behind plea.
According to the new rule: “The change confines a stumping review to only check for stumped, therefore preventing the fielding team a free review for other modes of dismissal (i.e. caught behind) without choosing a player review.” The amended rule becomes operative on December 12, 2023.
Concussion replacement is another area where the rules need clarification. “(It) provides clarity in the regulations to ensure that a replacement player will not be permitted to bowl if the replaced player was suspended from bowling at the time of their concussion.”
Auto no-ball: “In addition to the front foot, the third umpire will have a wider range of authority to automatically assess all types of foot faults no ball.
Regarding On-Field Injury Assessment and Treatment: “Explains the time restriction (a maximum of four minutes) that is permitted for an on-field injury assessment or treatment.”
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a number of changes to the playing conditions ahead of the Ranji Trophy, with a focus on the dead-ball scenario. The Ranji Trophy kicks off on Friday.
The BCCI has made a few modest adjustments to the rules of play, with the exception of imposing penalty runs on any fielder who unfairly moves once the ball enters play and before it reaches the striker.
The new BCCI regulation states: “Either umpire may call and signal dead ball in the event of such unfair movement, and they may also advise the other umpire of their decision. The bowler’s end umpire will then do the following: “award the one-run penalty for Wide or No ball, if applicable”; “award 5 Penalty runs to the batting side; inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for this action”; and “notify the batters and the captain of the batting side of what has happened as soon as possible.”
Right of the striker to play the ball
According to the rule, the striker is free to play the ball or make a valid second strike after it is delivered, free from the wicketkeeper or any other fielder’s interference.
However, according to Law 6.1 (Area of pitch), the striker may only try to play the ball while a portion of his or her body, whether elevated or grounded, is still inside the pitch. When a striker is playing the ball and no part of their body or bat is left on the pitch, one umpire will declare dead ball and indicate it.”
These modifications, which were introduced for the first time in the multi-day red ball event earlier this year, were made in response to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and the Vijay Hazare Trophy. The much-discussed “two bouncers an over” regulation, which will be used in the IPL, was also trialed in the SMAT from October to November of last year.