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The Marylebone Cricket Club has altered the terminology for the runout at the non-strikers’ end to avoid confusion caused by Adam Zampa’s run-out attempt during the ongoing Big Bash League. While playing against Melbourne Renegades, Zampa pulled out of his bowling action to run Tom Rogers out.
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But the appeal for a run-out against was turned down by the TV umpire, Shawn Craig as his bowling arm had gone past the point at which he would "normally have been expected to release the ball". The MCC, addressing the incident, released a statement confirming that Shawn Craig’s decision was right as Zampa and a run-out attempt must take place before reaching "the highest point in that bowler's action".
On Thursday, January 19, the MCC added some new terms to Law 38.3 which doesn't bring "material change to the meaning of the Law". Law 38.3.2 now states, "Even if the non-striker had left his/her ground before the instant at which the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, once the bowler has reached that point it is no longer possible for the bowler to run out the non-striker under this Law."
"We acknowledge that while this Law has generally been understood well by players and umpires, there is ambiguity in the wording which could lead to confusion. MCC has therefore moved to change the wording of Law 38.3 to deliver better clarity. The current wording led some to think that if the non-striker left his/her ground before the expected moment of release, then the Run out could happen at any moment, even after the bowler had gone through the bowling action. That was never the intention of this Law, nor the way it was ever interpreted by MCC", the Club further added in its statement.
"It is important to note that this does not change the way the Law should be interpreted - it has been interpreted that way for the past six years, without much misunderstanding. However, the intention is that this will make things clearer," it continued.
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