Index

LAW 41.1 to 42.5 CHANGES

There are several clauses which have been amended to this long Law on Fair and unfair play. The main changes are as follows and are broken down by section

Law 41.3 The match ball – changing its condition

This is the Law that deals with illegal damage to the match ball and it clarifies how a fielder may polish a ball

The new Law states that any cloth used to dry the ball must now have the approval of the umpires

The new Law also covers the possibility of the batsmen deliberately damaging the ball, which is a rare but possible scenario

When the umpires consider the condition of the ball has been unfairly changed, the opposing side will now have the option of the ball being changed or not. Whether or not the ball is changed, the penalties and subsequent reporting procedures remain the same, except that, following a team’s second offence, the bowler who bowled the previous ball will be suspended from bowling for the remainder of the match. Previously, it was just for the remainder of the innings

Law 41.4 Deliberate attempt to distract the striker

This is the Law that deals with the deliberate distraction of the striker before or as he faces a delivery. This Law previously allowed for a first and final warning but, because this is deliberate unfair play, this warning has been removed and 5 Penalty runs will be awarded for the first and subsequent offences

This is consistent with Law 41.5, which deals with equivalent offences after the striker has received the ball

Law 41.5 Deliberate distraction, deception or obstruction of batsman

This is the Law that prevents a fielder from deliberately distracting or obstructing a batsman after receiving the ball

An increasing practice considered unfair is ‘mock fielding’ or 'fake fielding' , where a fielder feigns to field the ball and/or feigns to throw a non-existent ball in an attempt to prevent the batsmen running. Therefore, the words ‘deceive’ and ‘deception’ have been added to this Law to cover both mock fielding and any other act which deliberately aims to deceive the batting side