New changes to MCC's Laws of Cricket come into effect for first time

Date: Friday 29th September Release time: Immediate

• Two Test Matches being played under the majority of the new Code of Laws, with the changes covering all matches globally from 1st October

• A number of significant changes made to the Laws, including limits being placed on the thickness of the bat, Handled the ball Law removed, and in-game consequences for poor on-field behaviour

• New Laws e-learning platform to be launched and available online

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The new changes to the Laws of Cricket, issued by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) will come into full effect around the world this coming Sunday 1st October 2017, with the changes covering all levels of the game.

The new Code of Laws is being introduced into the game for the first time since 2000, making it the biggest change for almost two decades. The 2017 Code is the sixth of its kind written by MCC since 1788, when it first drew up the MCC Code of Laws, with the others being published in 1835, 1947, 1980 and 2000.

There are also two Test matches taking place from Thursday this week in which the majority of the new Laws will be adhered to, with Pakistan taking on Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi, and South Africa hosting Bangladesh in Potchefstroom.

The new Code of Laws follows a three-year project overseen by the Club’s Laws sub-committee, which involved numerous trials and widespread global consultation throughout the professional and amateur game.

The significant changes to the 42 Laws are as follows:

- Now written in language applying to all persons, regardless of gender.

- The Handled the ball Law has been removed, with its contents merged into Obstructing the field.

- The Lost ball Law has been removed and is now covered under Dead ball.

- Limits placed on the thickness of the edges and the overall depth of the bat.

- Injuries hoped to be prevented in a new Law which allows mechanisms tethering the bails to the stumps.

- Bowling of deliberate front foot No balls to be treated in same way as deliberate full-tosses.

- A new Law of the game, Players’ conduct, is introduced, giving an in-match consequence for poor on-field behaviour, including temporary and permanent removal from the field.

- The Law regarding running out the non-striker has been altered.

- 'Bouncing bat’ Law changed, substitutes now allowed to keep wicket and concept of penalty time amended.

The changes are being supported by a new state-of-the-art eLearning programme, which MCC has produced. The Laws eLearning programme will guide everyone from the cricketing newcomer to the experienced umpire through all 42 Laws, with tips from the ICC’s Elite Umpires and footage from club, first-class and international cricket to illustrate the more complex points.

Users can test their knowledge with a Basic and Intermediate exam – the first step on the way to becoming an umpire. There are 68 game-footage clips included, with a number of updated animations narrated by actor, writer, and cricket lover Stephen Fry.

A smartphone app will also be updated from 1st October, which includes an interactive quiz in which users can test their knowledge of the changes in the Laws.

A theme throughout the new Code of Laws is MCC’s long-running promotion of the Spirit of Cricket, setting out what is expected in terms of behaviour, such as congratulating and thanking opponents, thanking officials and respecting all those involved in the game.

President of MCC Matthew Fleming said, "Promoting the Spirit of Cricket and conveying the ‘Play Hard, Play Fair’ message at all levels of the game is a global focus for MCC and has been for many years.

"The new Code of Laws officially recognises what is expected from players, right through from the park to the Test Match arena. It is a big step in MCC’s quest and a landmark for the game."

MCC Head of Cricket John Stephenson said, "This week marks the culmination of a global consultation with many different stakeholders throughout the whole spectrum of the amateur and professional game.

"MCC has left no stone unturned in researching and redrafting the Laws in order to not only make them applicable to players, umpires and spectators, but to also encourage interest in the game across the world."

An infographic, which helps to explain some of the key changes to the Laws of Cricket, can be viewed HERE

The new Code of the Laws of Cricket can be viewed HERE

The new Laws of Cricket eLearning materials can be viewed HERE

Notes to editors:

About the new eLearning Programme

This programme of Laws is not a qualification for new umpires, but governing bodies around the world can use this as a very helpful starting point, to make sure any candidates who want to go into umpiring already have a firm knowledge of the Laws of Cricket.

In line with the approach of the new Laws – which have been re-ordered to try to make the Code more logical – the eLearning is split into 8 modules: Setting up the game (Laws 1-12), Innings and Result (13-16), The Over, Scoring runs, Dead ball and Extras (17-23), Fielders and Substitutes (24-28), Appeals and Dismissals (29-40) and Unfair Play (41-42).

There are 68 game-footage clips, as well as 15 animations narrated by Stephen Fry, 42 Laws introductions and ‘top tips’ from Bruce Oxenford, Aleem Dar, Marais Erasmus, Kumar Dharmasena, Richard Kettleborough and Simon Taufel.

About Marylebone Cricket Club

MCC is the world’s most active cricket club, the owner of Lord’s Ground and the guardian of the Laws and Spirit of the game. There are 18,000 Full and 5,500 Associate Members of MCC.

MCC also has a World Cricket committee, which will be chaired from 1st October by Mike Gatting and contains eminent current and former players and administrators – including Sourav Ganguly and Ricky Ponting. It has a remit to act as an independent think tank, debating issues and making recommendations about the health and state of the game and to commission research.

MCC owns the most comprehensive collection of cricket artefacts and books in the world, housed in its museum and library at Lord’s which is visited by tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world each year.

About Lord’s Cricket Ground

The current Lord’s Cricket Ground is its third incarnation and this year celebrates in 200th. The first ever match played at ‘Lord’s Cricket Ground’ came in 1787 when businessman Thomas Lord staged a game between Middlesex and Essex at a newly built ground in what was then known as Dorset Fields.

By 1811, MCC had moved to a new Ground in the Eyre Estate of St John’s Wood. This ground proved unpopular but when plans emerged for the Regent’s Canal to be built straight through it, Thomas Lord gratefully accepted compensation and moved the Ground to its current location in 1814.

For more information please contact:

Adam Matthews

MCC Media and Communications Officer

Lord's Ground

Direct Line: 020 7616 8699

Mobile: 07929 348074

Email: adam.matthews@mcc.org.uk

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