In my last weekend blog, I had written about the rules in the game of cricket which were changed over the years to make the game more attractive, fair to both bowlers and batsmen, and some were changed because of the availability of the latest technology.
Here are the rest of the rules which went for changes over the years.
MANDATORY OVERS IN TEST CRICKET
In the earlier days during test matches and especially on the last day of the match, if either the bowling or bowling side were on the verge of losing the match they used to employ time-wasting techniques so that the closing time of the match reaches with bowling much lesser overs, so that match can be saved and it ends as a draw. To curb this practice, a rule was introduced in the early 70s that on the last day of the match, the bowling side has to bowl a minimum of 20 overs in the last hour of the playing time, and no problem, if the match extends beyond the closing time.
Now with the new rule of bowling a minimum of 90 overs in a day, the rule now for the last day is the same to bowl 90 overs but the last hour will not commence until a minimum of 75 overs are bowled. Suppose even if the bowling side has bowled more than 75 overs before the start of the last over, still they will have to bowl 15 overs more to complete the match, in the process they might bowl more than 90 overs in day.
UPDATES
In Run Out Rules
If the batsman grounds the bat(held by hand) or another part of his body touches the ground beyond the popping crease and provided that the batsman has continued forward momentum through running or diving, and subsequently loses the contact with ground or contact between the bat and person when the bails come down, the batsman will be declared not out. The same protection will also apply to the striker when diving back to his crease in case of stumping.
Earlier the batsmen’s bat or any part of his body should be in touch with the ground when the bails are brought down by the fielder or wicket-keeper.
Catches
Boundry Catches- Any fielder making contact with the ball must either be ground within the boundary, or his last contact with the ground before first touching the ball must have been within the boundary.
Caught of Fielder’s/wicket keeper’s helmet- The ball can now be caught after it strikes a helmet which is being worn by the fielder/wicketkeeper.
Stumped and Runout
A batsman can now be stumped/run out if the ball bounces off the helmet worn by the wicketkeeper/fielder.
THIRD UMPIRE OR TV UMPIRE
In the earlier days (pre-1980s), as there was no provision in the ICC members countries for direct telecast of the matches, and all the decisions regarding batsman dismissal were taken by on-field umpires, including close run-outs/stumping and catches from the fine edges. When in the late 80s most of the member countries had the facility to telecast matches live, and with a slow-motion replay of dismissal being telecast, there used to many comments from commentators and TV audience on the field umpires decision, then the ICC introduced the concept of Third Umpire or TV Umpire. Initially, it started with the on-field umpire referring to the close run out or stumping decision to the Third umpire, who used to watch the replay of the incident in slow motion on TV and declare the result whether a batsman is out or not. Afterward even the thin edges and catches on the boundaries were also allowed to be referred to 3rd umpire.
Now ICC has introduced Decision Review System (DRS)
Each team will have 2 unsuccessful reviews available in each innings. The team does not lose the review if the review is in their favour, ie against the umpire’s original call. This is available now in, ODI and T 20 matches. But in T20 it is only one unsuccessful review per inning per team.
This DRS system is in addition to direct reference by the umpire.
Revised Playing Conditions
During an interrupted ODI, the revised number of overs to be bowled is decided on the basis of 14.28 overs per hour rate, inclusive of the drinks intervals. While, in the case of the T20 inning, a fixed time is finalized before calling off the game at a rate of 14.11 overs per hour.
During a curtailed ODI, the total number of overs is divided by five to fix the maximum overs delivered by a bowler. To maintain a balance, additional overs are allowed to the maximum number per bowler. In a recent rule-maneuver, a bowler can deliver a maximum of two overs if the T20I is reduced to ten overs of less than ten overs.
Unless a twenty overs-side match takes place, any ODI is aborted and in T20I the criteria is a minimum five overs-side match.
In the weather-delay matches, the revised playing conditions are decided by The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method. Earlier it was no fixed rule and the host country in consultation with the field umpires would decide about the playing conditions in case of weather delays.
How DLS Works
The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) is a matter of great importance in limited-overs cricket. During the start of the innings, two resources are taken into consideration.
One is the total number of deliveries and ten wickets. As the batting innings progress, those resources decrease eventually become nil after a full quota of overs or losing ten wickets. The score is calculated on the basis of at what stage the game is interrupted, the remaining overs, and wickets.
Other rules which are changed for the betterment of the game
-Each team can name six substitutes (previously it was four) in Test cricket.
-In Test cricket, an interval will be taken if a wicket falls within three minutes of the interval. Previously it was two minutes.
-In T20 internationals, if an innings is reduced to less than 10 overs, the maximum quota of overs per bowler shall not be less than two: meaning that if a match is reduced to five overs a side, two bowlers will be able to bowl two overs each.
-If the ball bounces more than once after being delivered by the bowler and before it reaches the popping crease of the batsman, it will be called a no-ball. Previously a ball was allowed to bounce twice. If the ball lands off the pitch, then the umpire will signal a no-ball. If a fielder intercepts the delivery before it reaches the batsman, the umpire will call no-ball and dead ball.
-An appeal can be withdrawn, or the umpires can recall a dismissed batsman, at any time before the ball comes into play for the next delivery. Previously, a batsman could not be recalled once he had left the field.
-Any byes or leg byes scored off a no-ball will now be scored separately.
-A player can now be sent off the field by the umpire for the rest of a match for serious misconduct.
Women’s Cricket
Generally, rules for them are the same except that the boundaries are shorter and the infield and close infield circles are smaller than in the Men’s game. With the semicircles of the infield having a radius of 23 meters (25 yd) and the close infield circles having a radius of 12 meters (13 yd). In the men’s game, they are at 30 yards. and 15 yards.
To make the T20 game more attractive and to be played at a fast pace there are some special rules :
-The ‘Free Hit’ – The ‘Free Hit’ serves to penalise a bowler if he delivers a no-ball by overstepping his mark. The Free Hit is awarded following such an infringement and basically means that the batsman will not be given out for that delivery unless he is run out.
-Five-run penalties – In Twenty20 cricket, an umpire may award one of the team’s five bonus runs if he feels the opposition is needlessly wasting time. This is designed to maintain the flow and pace of a Twenty20 match.
–75-minute time limits – Bowling teams are forced to complete their 20 overs within 75 minutes A bonus of six runs is given to the batting team if the bowling side has not begun its twentieth over before their 75 minutes is up. Once again, this rule aims to maintain the rhythm and pace of the T20 game.
–The 90-second rule – Once a wicket has fallen in a Twenty20 match, the following batsman must take up his position at the wicket or bowler’s end within 90 seconds. If they are unable to do so, they could potentially be disqualified from batting in the match.
-In the case of the Tied game, earlier the rule was that from each team 6 bowlers will bowl one ball each on the stumps (without batsman), and whichever team hits the stump more times, wins the match. The rule was changed to each side batting for one over, and whichever team score more runs win the match.
Hope this information will be useful to all my cricket-loving friends.
Waiting for your views and comments.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
10th September 2021