Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has made 73 material changes to the Laws of Cricket that will be effective from 1st October 2026. After 2017, 2019, and 2022, this is the 4th time MCC has made changes to the rules of cricket, and this time the changes are significant, including the mandatory completion of the final over in Test, wicketkeeper positioning during run-up, overthrow clearly defined, the deliberate short runs rule, allowed laminated bats, and more. Check out all the details below.

New MCC Laws Explained

Mandatory Completion of the final over in the test

Now, the final of any day in Test cricket has to be completed that day only, and it cannot be carried forward to the next morning even after a wicket falls in that over.

MCC said, "The final over of a day's play will not end if there is a wicket. This is a significant change that will impact multi-day cricket. It was felt unfair that, if a fielding side takes a wicket in the final over of the day, the batting side does not have to send out a new batter.”

"This doesn't save time (which is the case at lunch and tea), as the remaining balls need to be made up the next day, and it takes the drama out of the game while letting the incoming batter off the hook—at a time when the conditions are often more favorable to bowling. The new change means that the final over of the day will be bowled fully, even if a wicket falls during it (assuming conditions remain fit)."

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Wicketkeeper Positioning during Run-Up

Now, according to the new rules, wicketkeepers can move during the run-up but must be fully behind the stumps only after the ball is released, reducing unfair no-ball calls.

MCC said, “Wicketkeepers cannot come in front of the stumps to collect the ball until it has passed the striker’s wicket or made contact with their bat or person—that remains the case.”

“But in a DRS age, umpires were noticing that some keepers move level with, or in front of, the stumps while the bowler is running up—technically a no-ball, but not something that would give them any advantage. The law has now changed so that it is only after the ball is released that the wicketkeeper must be wholly behind the stumps. This brings the wording in line with a fielder’s position.”

Overthrow clearly defined

An overthrow now only means a direct throw at the stumps. If the throw is to teammates or a simple misfield, it cannot be counted as an overthrow.

MCC said, "Attempt to direct the ball towards the stumps to stop run-scoring or attempt a run-out. whether an attempt to stop the ball or pass it to another fielder close to the boundary—should not be treated as an overthrow."

Deliberate short runs rule

Now, if any batter runs a short run on purpose, the bowling captain has the right to decide which batter will face the next ball, along with a five-run penalty.

MCC said, “This is now one of three times that players will be permitted to determine who is on strike for the next delivery. Law 41.5 (where a fielder obstructs the batter) has long been one such occasion, but this clause, and Law 37.5.2, when a batter is out obstructing a catch, will now give that power to the fielding captain.”

Laminated bats allowed

Now the laminated bats are allowed in adult cricket. MCC has been testing these bats for a long time, and now, finally, they are allowed in international cricket.

The MCC said allowing laminated bats was "part of an attempt to slow the rising costs" of bats globally. It is for the NGBs (National Governing Bodies) to decide at what level laminated bats, which the MCC has called Type D bats, will be used.

"Laminated bats can use up to three pieces of wood, allowing for more of the best quality willow trees to be used, and for lower quality willow to be glued to a high-quality face," the MCC said. According to the MCC, laminated bats did not offer any "performance advantage" over the normal bats.

Standard ball sizes

Balls are now officially categorized as size 1, 2, and 3 for consistency across men's, women's, and junior cricket.

MCC said, “The balls are now Size 1, Size 2, and Size 3, and while Size 1 (traditionally the men’s ball) has not changed, the margins are now uniform, making for three distinct categories of balls.”

Bunny hop catches

A fielder can touch the ball only once while in the air outside the boundary. Fielders must land inside the field to complete the catch.

MCC said, “Fielders going outside the boundary can only touch the ball once while airborne and then, having done so, must be wholly grounded within the boundary for the rest of the duration of that delivery.”

When the ball is finally settled

Now, according to the new MCC laws, the ball is considered dead once any fielder holds it or stops moving on the ground.

MCC said, “The ball will be considered 'finally settled” when it is in the hands of a fielder or stationary on the ground. The ball no longer has to be in the bowler’s or the wicketkeeper’s hands to be finally settled.”