ICC updates on Playing Conditions; Check out the new rules

The ICC has announced a number of amendments to the Playing Conditions, all of which will take effect on October 1 2022. In the MCC’s revised 3rd Edition of the 2017 Code of the Laws of Cricket, the Men’s Cricket Committee, chaired by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, made recommendations for improvements to the Playing Conditions. The Women’s Cricket Committee also received the findings and approved the recommendations.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia next month will be the first tournament to implement the revised Playing Conditions, which will go into effect on October 1, 2022. ICC officially stated the main rules which were announced to be changed or updated – (According to ICC)

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  • Batters returning when caught: When a batter is out Caught, the new batter will come in at the end the striker was, regardless of whether the batters crossed prior to the catch being taken.Previously, in case the batters crossed before a catch was taken, the non-striker would take strike the next ball while the new batter would be at the non-striker’s end.
  • Use of saliva to polish the ball: This prohibition has been in place for over two years in international cricket as a Covid-related temporary measure and it is considered appropriate for the ban to be made permanent.
  • Striker’s right to play the ball: This is restricted so as to require some part of their bat or person to remain within the pitch. Should they venture beyond that, the umpire will call and signal Dead ball. Any ball which would force the batter to leave the pitch will also be called No ball.
  • Unfair movement by the fielding side: Any unfair and deliberate movement while the bowler is running in to bowl could now result in the umpire awarding five penalty runs to the batting side, in addition to a call of Dead ball.
  • Running out of the non-striker: The Playing Conditions follow the Laws in moving this method of effecting a Run out from the ‘Unfair Play’ section to the ‘Run out’ section.

    Previously looked down as unfair play, running out a non-striker for backing up too much will now be considered as a regular run-out.

  • Timed out in ODIs and Tests: Previously in ODIs and Tests, a batter had three minutes to walk out at the fall of a wicket and take strike. That timing has been shortened, and a new batter is required to take strike within two minutes of a dismissal in the two formats. The threshold of 90 seconds in T20Is remains unchanged.
  • Over-rate penalty: In January 2022, an in-match penalty was introduced in T20Is. As per this, a fielding side must be in a position to bowl the first ball of the final over of the innings by the scheduled or rescheduled time for the end of the innings. If they are not in such a position, one fewer fielder will be permitted outside the 30-yard circle for the remainder of the innings. This rule will now be adopted in ODIs as well, after the completion of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League 2023.
  • No-ball for venturing out of the pitch: If a batter moves beyond the confines of the pitch to play a delivery, it will be deemed a no-ball. Some part of the batter or the bat is needed to remain within the pitch.