The competitive international cricket matches have been played since the year 1844, and Test cricket began and recognised in 1877. Cricket was called a Gentleman’s game and purists still believe it is, but over the years it has become very competitive and commercialised also. The International Cricket Council (ICC) is the global governing body of cricket. It was founded as the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 by the representatives of England, Australia & South Africa. It was renamed the International Cricket Conference in 1965 and took its current name in 1989.
Over the years ICC has framed many rules for playing the game of cricket and they have been modified/amended periodically depending upon the playing conditions, the popularity of the game, and the format of the game. Initially, all the cricket rules were framed for the matches to be played over 2 innings by both the playing teams. Be the match be a test match played over 5 days or any other local game played over 3 or 4 days, rules were the same.
NEW CRICKET RULES THAT CHANGED THE GAME
- The test match will be spread over 6 days, with one day in between to be considered as Rest Day, the game will be played for 5 days in fact. But when the test matches became more competitive & professional and players’ physique and body health started improving, the rest day was done away in the 1980s.
- Earlier in the Asian subcontinent daily playing hours were limited to 5 and half hours, but at so many other places it was 6 hours per day. Lately in all the playing countries adopted 6 hours min as playing time.
- In Australia, the over consisted of bowling 8 balls whereas in other places 6 balls per over. Afterward, all the countries adopted for 6 balls to be bowled per over.
- Earlier only players were asked to play by wearing only white clothing and even gloves/pads were also supposed to be white, with the advent of limited over matches the colour clothing became permissible in the 80s, in limited over matches ie One Day Internationals and later in T20 matches, but in Tests, it is still white attire.
Above were a few of the general rules which were changed over the years to suit the local conditions and nature of the matches.
ICC formed the many technical rules, which have to be followed by all teams governed by ICC. I will enumerate the rules which went for change over the years
NO BALL- In general No Ball was defined as the ball (delivery) which is not as per the rules. As per the rules initially ‘ No Ball is defined as the delivery where while bowling the delivery bowler’s front foot completely oversteps and crosses the front popping crease at bowler’s end.’ The says that some part of the foot stays behind the popping crease and it should touch the ground. As per the rule, 1 run as extra is being added to the batting team’s total and the bowler has to bowl an additional ball. Over the years so many other deliveries are added to the No Ball category
- Earlier pace bowler sometimes used to bowl a full toss ball above the waist to batsmen, where there was every chance of batsman getting hurt/injured. Now, this is considered as No Ball.
- Earlier there was no restriction on pace bowler to bowl as many bouncers to the batsmen. This slowly became a menace and pace bowlers used to take advantage of this for restricting the run rate of batsmen. Now the new rule says that a bowler can bowl only one bouncer per over and any additional bouncer in that over will be considered as NO BALL
- As a rule, the bowler is allowed to bowl from either side of the wicket, but if he fails to inform the umpire prior to the start of bowling then that ball is considered as NO BALL.
- If the Wicket Keeper comes forward and collects the ball before the ball crosses the stumps. If he does so then that ball will be considered as NO BALL.
- In ODI and T20 if there are more fielders outside the 30 yards circle other than what is prescribed by the rule, will be considered as No Ball.
All the above changes in the No Ball rule have been done to make the game of cricket more attractive.
WIDE BALL- The original definition of the wide ball is ‘ if the bowler bowls the ball so high or so wide of the wicket, so that it is out of reach of batsman to play while standing in normal stance, then that delivery is considered as Wide Ball. The bowler has to bowl an additional delivery and one run is added to the team’s total. If the ball is wide, but the batsman plays the ball then the wide ball signal is canceled by the umpire.
With the advent of ODI & T20, the law was changed, the back crease is marked on both sides of stumps, and if the ball is outside that mark then the ball is considered a Wide Ball.
Batsmen can be considered to be out from wide ball on the following occasion- hit wicket, stumped, run out, handled the ball, and obstructing the field.
FIELD RESTRICTION
ALL FORMS
In all forms of cricket, only two fielders are allowed in the quadrant between the fielding positions of square leg and long stop. This is to prevent the outlawed and controversial bodyline tactics from being used. No fielder is allowed on or over the pitch until the batsman has had a chance to play the ball.
IN ODIs
During the first 10 overs of a 50-over inning, a maximum of two fielders is allowed to be deployed in the outfield. Before July 2015, a minimum of two fielders (other than the bowler and wicket-keeper) had to be deployed in the close infield during Powerplay 1 . If the number of overs in the innings is restricted to less than 24, the length of the fielding restrictions is reduced to eight or nine overs. At least 3 fielders must remain on either the Off or Leg Side.
By 1992, only two fieldsmen were allowed outside the circle in the first fifteen overs, then five fieldsmen allowed outside the circle for the remaining overs. This was shortened to ten overs in 2005, and two five-over powerplays were introduced, with the bowling team having discretion over the timing for both. In 2008, the batting team was given discretion for the timing of one of the two powerplays. In 2011, the teams were restricted to completing the discretionary powerplays between the 16th and 40th overs; previously, the powerplays could take place at any time between the 11th and 50th overs.
On October 30, 2012, changes to the rules for fielding restrictions in one-day matches were officially implemented by the ICC. The number of powerplay blocks was reduced to two; the first occurs within the first 10 overs, restricting the team to two fielders outside the 30-yard circle. The second block, the Batting Powerplay with a restriction of three fielders outside the circle, must occur by the 40th over The number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle in non-Powerplay overs has also been reduced to four (from five).
In June 2015 rules changed to do away with batting powerplay, and allowed up to 5 fielders outside the circle in last 10 overs. The 2015 rule changes also included the removal of batting power play.
IN T20
The number of players in the outfield area is the same as for the One-day format, but the restriction lasts for the first six of the twenty overs, and there is no “Batting” or “Bowling” (Powerplays 2 and 3 in ODI’s) Powerplay. Whereas in Twenty20 format a team can have a maximum of five fielders outside 30 yards (27 m after the first six overs of twenty overs. Rule allows five fielders to stand on the leg side of the batsman at any one time. Similarly, only two fielders are allowed to stand outside of the inner circle in the first six overs of play. This number increases to five fielders in the remaining 14 overs.
All the rules for the above field restrictions are done to make the game more attractive/competitive and not to give an edge to either the bowling or batting side.
The rest of the changes, I will describe in next weekend blog.
Waiting for your views and comments.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
27th August 2021.
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