Mankading - MCC new cricket rules - sportstiger

Picture Credit: BCCI/IPL

Cricket is an ever-evolving game. From starting as only a red-ball game to now being played by both red and white ball, there always remains a scope of improvement in the game of cricket. With the addition of new formats, the game has become even more dynamic. But regardless of the format, the game must abide by the rules and laws of cricket, be it Test cricket, T20s, or league games like The Hundred.

However, with the game of cricket changing at a fast pace, a change in laws is also mandatory. Considering the same, the Marylebone Cricket Club on Wednesday announced the introduction of new laws which make the game even more interesting. These new laws will be affected from 1 October. The biggest change includes the addition of 'mankading' mode of dismissal to the run-out category. Earlier, although the batter was given out, a talk of being it 'unfair play' always used to be there. Remember R Ashwin dismissing Jos Buttler in an IPL match in 2019.

Now, according to the new law introduced by MCC, running out the non-striker – has been moved from Law 41 (Unfair play) to Law 38 (Run out). The wording of the Law remains the same. This means that running a batsman out in a bowler's stride won't be counted 'against the spirit of the game' and it will be included as a run-out.

No saliva on the ball!

Apart from including 'mankading' to the run-out mode of dismissal, the MCC also announced a few more changes in the law. The MCC has stated that there will be no use of saliva by the fielders or bowlers of the fielding team to shine the ball. Earlier, players used their saliva to shine the ball, but it was put on hold due to COVID-19.

"When cricket resumed following the onset of Covid-19, playing conditions were written in most forms of the game stating that applying saliva to the ball was no longer permitted. MCC’s research found that this had little or no impact on the amount of swing the bowlers were getting. Players were using sweat to polish the ball, and this was equally effective.

"The new Laws will not permit the use of saliva on the ball, which also removes any grey areas of fielders eating sugary sweets to alter their saliva to apply to the ball. Using saliva will be treated the same way as any other unfair methods of changing the condition of the ball," wrote MCC in its release.

Some more changes

Some other significant changes in the laws of cricket include regarding wide ball and regarding the new batter coming to the crease after a batter is dismissed caught. Regarding the wide ball, the new law suggests that a call on the wide ball will be taken by looking at the position of the batter while playing the delivery not where he started. While regarding the batter change, the MCC said when a batter is out caught, the new player will come in at the end the striker was at and face the next ball unless it is the end of an over.

Another change allows a batter to play a shot on a delivery even if it landed outside the pitch. However, some part of their bat or person should remain within the pitch, otherwise, it will be called a dead ball. MCC also stated that five penalty runs will be awarded to the batting team if any unfair movement is found by a fielder of the bowling team. Earlier, the ball was called dead in such scenario.