Cricket, unlike other sports, appears simple a simple game yet possesses complex rules. Cricket, a game rooted in rich traditions and constantly evolving, has seen the introduction of new formats and regulations that have added a technical dimension to its skill-based nature. This article will explore banned rules and the recent game-changing reforms that were adopted in international cricket and discuss their impact on the modern game.
Introduction
Over the years, the game of cricket has undergone significant rule changes; many were introduced to accommodate the changes in the new format of the game, but many were introduced to keep pace with the constant evolutions in the game. Rule changes also included bans on a few existing rules that were part of cricket for decades.
The Changes and bans to some of the age-old rules were part of improving the fairness in the game that included player safety, spirit of the game and the pace at which the game was to be played in line with modern sports.
Rules of Cricket that were changed or banned
- Use of Saliva on the ball
Historically, bowlers used to use sweat and saliva on one side of the ball to aid swing bowling. Post-COVID Era, with hygiene concerns, the use of saliva on the ball was banned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) since 2020. The Rule, however, allowed the use of bodily sweat to be used.
- No more delay in between overs – Stop Clock in Test Cricket
Test cricket in the past used to move at a snail’s pace. While the mandatory 90 overs per day was to be delivered in a day, the on-field chitchats, the unnecessary time wasting on field placements, etc., reduced the play time in cricket. To address this problem, ICC introduced a ‘stop clock rule’ which forces the fielding team to bowl the next over under 60 seconds of finishing the previous over.
While this rule was first brought in for limited overs games, the rule was later adopted in Test Match cricket too. After 2 official warnings, a five-run penalty is imposed on the bowling side for the third offence. The stop clock rule is reset every 80 overs.
ICC also introduced a two-minute rule for the incoming batter in Tests and ODIs to be ready to face the ball.
These rules have significantly improved the pace of the sport.
- Single ball rule in ODIs
For a brief period, there was a practice of using 2 new balls, one from each end of the pitch, throughout the innings. However, the rule came under heavy criticism as it favoured the batters, denying the bowlers the advantage that comes with an old ball. With the 2-ball rule, the ball remained relatively new even in the 40th over. To correct the same, ICC introduced a new rule which allowed 2 balls to be used for the first 34 overs. The bowling side, however, can pick one of the two balls to be used for the rest of the innings. This rule brought in reverse swing back into the game.
- Bunny Hop catches outside the Boundary
While a highly skilled cricketing move, the ICC banned ‘Bunny hop’ boundary catches. A catch was valid earlier, even when fielders made contact with the ball while being airborne beyond the boundary and then jumped back into the field to complete the catch.
According to the new rule, the catch will be valid only if the airborne fielder must now land back inside the boundary before taking the catch. The fielder will be allowed only one touch to control the ball before touching the ground inside the boundary.
- Concussion Substitute Rule
When a team member gets injured under the existing concussion substitute rule, the team could replace the injured player with any player who suited the team, considering the situation of the game. This gave an undue advantage to that team. To avoid this, ICC brought in a new concussion substitute rule, wherein five concussion substitute players have to be named before the start of play, which covers different player roles like batsman, wicketkeeper, seam bowler, spin bowler and allrounder.
A spin bowler who gets injured can now only be replaced by a spinner pre-named as a spin substitute.
There is also a seven-day stand-down period to be followed for the injured player. Now the team cannot misuse the rule for concussion anymore.
- Running Out the Non-Striker is fair play
Often considered as not within the spirit of the game, this rule is now regarded as fair as per the ICC’s new rules.
Bowler running out a non-striker (if the non-striker is prematurely leaving the crease) in the process of delivery is now considered a fair mode of dismissal.
ICC has now repositioned this dismissal from unfair play to lawful run-out categories, formalising it as a legitimate dismissal strategy by the fielding team.
- Ban on Chucking – Illegal bowling action
With the help of a high-speed slow-motion camera and other modern technologies, it is now easy to determine the elbow extension degree to understand if the action was legal or not. The 15-degree elbow extension rule can be easily monitored.
Commonly known as chucking, it was bypassed by many international bowlers with suspect actions, as they had established themselves as international players of repute before being finally called for their illegal bowling action.
With Technology now, many players, established or new have been called for their illegal bowling action and in some cases ‘permanent bans’ have also been executed.
- Bats to be made of wood only
Dennis Lillee of Australia went into bat with an aluminium bat, which was later not allowed by the on-field umpire. This prompted the ICC to ban cricket bats that are made of any material other than traditional wood.
- Deliberate Short Run
To get a particular batsman back on strike, the two batsmen in the middle used to intentionally take a short second run (without fully touching the popping crease). This is now not possible with ICC now empowering the on-field umpires to give five run penalty and fielding team can choose which batsman should face the next delivery.
- Runners for injured batsmen
The New ICC rules have banned the use of runners (for batsmen) in cricket. This rule has restricted unfit players from misusing the runner rule which allowed them to stay fresh and someone else running for them.
Conclusion
Over the years, there have been many more rules (not mentioned in the above list) making small but significant corrections to make cricket fair and to improve the pace of the game.
The age-old game of cricket will evolve, and the rules of the game, too, will see corrections being made. This is the only way the sport can reach and spread to more countries.
Sports played around the world are short and fast. Cricket, too, needs to move in that direction for it to spread. The T20 format and the rules brought in for the newest format of the game have given the sport the much-needed reach and popularity.
Bans in Cricket rules have been executed to maintain fairness in the game with players’ safety in mind.
Cricket to become a truly global sport requires such ongoing adaptations to embrace the necessary progressions in the sport.
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