Attention was drawn at the recent Captains’ Meeting top the fact that MCC had promulgated a 4th edition of the Code of Laws to come into effect from 1 October 2010.
The majority of the changes in this are directed to issues which have arisen in the first class game, imply in many cases the presence of appointed umpires and/or TV equipment, or are issues of clarification.
To avoid confusion or inconsistency in individual games where there are no appointed umpires, and following consultation with the local Umpires Association, the Management Committee has decided that pending a detailed analysis by the Rules Committee of the changes, and what derogations from them in terms of local regulations might be appropriate, the Association will for 2011 season continue to abide by Section 3 of its Wet Weather Guidelines and Clause 17 (m) of its Constitution; and that the provisions of the 3rd Edition of the Code (2003) will continue to apply for all games under the auspices of the Association in 2011, where the 4th Code is more restrictive. Specifically:-
a) It will not be necessary that the toss for innings be independently witnessed, irrespective of whether there is an appointed umpire. However, captains winning the toss will be expected to notify the opposition of their intention to bat or bowl immediately.
b) Where an independent umpire or umpires is appointed, in conditions which are unreasonable but not dangerous, they will continue to ascertain whether both teams wish to continue play before deciding whether to suspend or abandon it. Where there are no appointed umpires Section 4 of the Association Wet Weather Guidelines will continue to apply.
c) The amended laws on positioning of the bowler’s foot relative to the middle stump; forbidding practice balls on the field of play with associated penalties; one fewer warning for batsman damaging the pitch before runs are disallowed and penalty runs applied; catching or fielding the ball being disallowed if it has been parried it back into play where a fielder before touching it has most recently been grounded outside the boundary; and being out hit wicket from the detached part of a broken bat; will not be enforced in the 2011 season.
However the more generous rule, whereby a batsman is no longer liable to be given run out, provided her/his foot has been grounded behind the popping crease, if it and the bat are thereafter all off the ground in the act of continuing to run when the wicket is broken will apply.
wytbu8 Apr 26 2011 - 5:46pm
