Cricket : New Code of Laws

Was you aware?

There is a new Code (2017) of the Laws of Cricket, the First since 2000 will take effect around the world from today – 1 October 2017.

The ones I think you need to be aware of or rather the significant changes to the 42 Laws are as follows:

Now written in language applying to all persons, regardless of gender. Although s/he is still there as is “batsman”
The Handled the ball Law has been deleted, with its contents merged into Obstructing the field.
The Lost ball Law has been deleted and is now covered under Dead ball.
Limits placed on the thickness of the edges and the overall depth of the bat.
Injuries hoped to be prevented in a new Law which allow mechanisms tethering the bails to the stumps.
Bowling of deliberate front foot No balls to be treated in same way as deliberate full-tosses.
A new Law of the game, Players’ conduct, is introduced, giving an in-match consequence for poor on-field behaviour.
The Law regarding running out the non-striker has been altered.
‘Bouncing bat’ Law changed, substitutes now allowed to keep wicket and concept of penalty time amended.

There are still 42 Laws, although two previous Laws have been deleted, with two additions. The significant changes are:

The new Code of Laws is written in language applying to all persons, regardless of gender. The new Code includes an increased use of generic nouns like ‘fielder’ and ‘bowler’ and uses ‘he/she’ when required, together with a broadened disclaimer covering all genders. The term ‘batsman’ remains, however.
The Handled the ball Law has been deleted, with its contents merged into Obstructing the field, reducing the list of dismissals from ten to nine. This will have no effect on whether a batsman is dismissed; rather, it is just the method of dismissal that might be changed.
The Lost ball Law has been deleted and is now covered under Dead ball.
The old Law 2 has been divided into two separate Laws, relating to the batsmen (Law 25) and the fielders (Law 24). These Laws have changed the concept of Penalty time, which starts to accrue immediately when a player leaves the field and which will also now affect when the player may bat.
Law 5 (The Bat) places limits on the thickness of the edges and the overall depth of the bat. The maximum dimensions will be 108mm (4.25 inches) in width (unchanged), 67mm in depth with 40mm edges.
Law 8.4 has been changed, to help prevent injuries, to allow specially designed mechanisms which tether the bails to the stumps, thereby restricting the distance that they can fly off the stumps but without limiting their ability to be dislodged.
Law 24 (Fielders’ absence; substitutes) now allows a substitute to keep wicket, with the consent of the umpires.
Law 30 (Batsman out of his/her ground) has been amended to give protection to a running or diving batsman whose bat bounces up after having been grounded beyond the popping crease.
Law 41.8 now covers the bowling of deliberate front foot No balls, which will result in the bowler being suspended from bowling.
Law 41.15 now prevents the batsman from taking stance in a position where he/she will inevitably encroach on the protected area.
Law 41.16 has changed so that the non-striker risks being Run out if he/she leaves his/her ground before the bowler would normally be expected to release the ball.
Law 42 (Player Conduct) is a new Law which gives an in-match consequence for poor on-field behaviour including, for the most serious offences, temporary or permanent removal from the field of play.