PROPOSED LAW
CHANGES 2013
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LAW 2 SUBSTITUTES AND RUNNERS
 Only the Striker (while receiving/playing at a delivery) now
subject to Law 33 Handled the ball. Hence non striker; a
runner acting for an injured striker & a striker in the act of
running are not subject to this Law (however they remain
subject to dismissal under “Obstructing the field”)
 Law now outlines immunity for Injured striker regarding
stumped off a no-ball situation to mirror normal batsman
 Highlighted parts reworded only – no change in meaning
and application of Law 2
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LAW 5 THE BALL
4. New ball in match of more than one day’s duration
In a match of more than one day’s duration, the captain of
the fielding side may demand a new ball after the prescribed
number of overs has been bowled with the old one when the
number of overs, excluding any part overs, bowled with the
old one is equal to or greater than the prescribed number of
overs. The Governing Body for cricket in the country
concerned shall decide the number of overs applicable in
that Country match which This number shall not be less than
75 overs.
The umpire shall inform the other umpire and indicate to the
batsmen and the scorers whenever a new ball is taken into
play.
 Highlighted parts reworded only – no change in meaning
and application of Law 5
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LAW 17
PRACTICE ON THE FIELD
 Parts 1 (Practice on the pitch) & 2 (Practice on the rest of
the square) have been combined under part 1 as (a) & (b)
 Part 3 (Practice on the outfield) becomes new part 2 and
is broken into 4 sub sections – (a) to (d). Drinks breaks
are now mentioned in this section where previous Laws
were silent in this regard.
 Practice on the outfield now more specific regarding
illegality of fielder undertaking bowling practice in between
balls to someone outside the boundary eg. Bowling coach
Note mention of only match ball allowed on field of play
 Bowling practice to a fellow fielder ok provided normal
bowling action used i.e. no pounding of ball into ground
which could be used to change it’s condition i.e. Soften it
 Batting practice specifically mentioned for the first time.
Linked to Law 42 i.e. Batsman wasting time
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LAW 18
SCORING RUNS
 When a batsman is dismissed Handled the ball the only
runs scored are from penalties i.e. not runs already scored
prior to offence
 Only penalty runs applicable now for scoring runs when
ball lawfully strike more than once (see Law 34.4)
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LAW 19
BOUNDARIES
 Proposed scenario is - player “A” makes initial contact
with the ball on the full within the field of play etc. Player
“B” can complete the catch providing he does not have
contact with the ground beyond the boundary while in
contact with the ball. Does this constitute a fair catch? The
answer is yes (supported by CA Technical Committee)
which was subsequently confirmed by Simon Taufel and
Frazer Stewart (MCC Laws Committee). Specific intent by
use of the words “a fielder first making contact within the
field of play” and subsequent reference talks about “any
fielder makes subsequent contact”
 Boundary 4 and boundary 6 terminology and signals still
used for games even though alternate amount of runs has
allocated to boundaries
 Specific mention of boundary 6 only scored for ball struck
with the bat i.e. not able to score 6 byes; leg byes etc.
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LAW 23
DEAD BALL
1. Ball is dead
(x) the match is concluded in any of the ways stated in Law
16.9 (Conclusion of match).
4. Umpire calling and signalling Dead ball
(ix) the ball does not leave the bowler’s hand for any reason
other than an attempt to run out the non-striker under Law
42.15 (Bowler attempting to run out non-striker before
delivery).
 Extra situation (x) added for part 1 of dead ball Law
stating explicitly what is already implied by the Law,
namely that the ball becomes dead at the conclusion of
the match.
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LAW 24
NO BALL
 New part 6 of no ball Law to cover “Steven Finn” situation,
Note associated reference in Appendix D includes
stipulation of delivery stride and stride following!
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LAW 25
WIDE BALL
3. Call and signal of Wide ball
(c) The umpire shall revoke the call of Wide ball if a delivery
is called a No ball. See Law 24.11 (No ball to over-ride
Wide).
8. Out from a Wide
When Wide ball has been called, neither batsman shall be
out under any of the Laws except 33 Handled the ball , 35
(Hit wicket), 37 (Obstructing the field), 38 (Run out) or 39
(Stumped).
 Handled the ball now a specific action pertaining to striker
only in playing at the ball eg Graham Gooch
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LAW 30
BOWLED
1. Out Bowled
(a) The striker is out Bowled if his wicket is put down by a
ball delivered by the bowler, not being a No ball, even if it first
touches his bat or person.
(b) Notwithstanding (a) above he shall not be out Bowled if
before striking the wicket the ball has been in contact with
any other player or an umpire. He will, however, be
subject to Laws 33 (Handled the ball), 37 (Obstructing the
field), 38 (Run out) and 39 (Stumped).
 As above specific Handled the ball situation means that if
subsequent contact with a fielder then dismissal could
result from Obstruction eg David Hussey last season
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LAW 32
CAUGHT
 Discuss “team catch” as mentioned in boundary Law i.e.
multiple fielders involved in caught scenario. This remains
a fair catch providing 2 criteria are met • First player contacting the ball must be inside the field of
play or, if in the air when first contact with the ball is made,
had last contact with the ground inside the field of play
• Any subsequent player who contacts the ball throughout
the act of completing “team catch,” must not have contact
with both the ball and the ground beyond the boundary at
the same time.
 Formatting change without any impact on current
interpretation
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LAW 33
HANDLED THE BALL
 Significant change – now only applies to striker and not
either batsman. Runner also excluded as discussed
earlier however still subject to Obstruction
 Graham Gooch scenario typical situation now required for
this peculiar mode of dismissal
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LAW 34
HIT THE BALL TWICE
 Significant change to what was one of the most
confusing match situations
 Striker still allowed to strike the ball a second time purely
to guard his wicket
 Now regardless of whether overthrows occur or not
penalty runs applying prior to contact are the only runs
that can be scored.
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LAW 37
OBSTRUCTING THE FIELD
 Significant change note specific scenario where
batsman returns ball to fielding side with his hand can now
be dismissed obstruction not handled the ball
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LAW 38
RUN OUT
 Formatting change without any impact on current
interpretation
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LAW 39
STUMPED
3. Not out Stumped
(a) Notwithstanding 1 above, the striker will not be out
Stumped if he has left his ground in order to avoid injury.
(b) If the striker is not out Stumped he may, except in the
circumstances of either of Laws 2.8(e)(i) or 38.2(b)(ii), be
out Run out if the conditions of Law 38 (Run out) apply.
 Formatting change without any impact on current
interpretation
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LAW 41
THE FIELDER
3. Protective helmets belonging to the fielding side
Protective helmets, when not in use by fielders, should, if above the
surface, be placed only on the ground behind the wicket-keeper and in line
with both sets of stumps.
If a protective helmet belonging to the fielding side is on the ground within
the field of play, and the ball while in play strikes it, the ball shall become
dead, and except in the circumstances of Law 34 (Hit the ball twice), 5
penalty runs shall then be awarded to the batting side, in addition to the
penalty for a No ball or a Wide, if applicable.
Additionally runs completed by the batsmen before the ball strikes the
protective helmet shall be scored, together with the run in progress if the
batsmen had already crossed at the instant of the ball striking the protective
helmet. See Law 18.10 (Runs scored when the ball becomes dead other
than at the fall of a wicket).
If, however, the circumstances of Law 34 apply, neither the 5 penalty runs
nor any runs to the batsman are to be awarded. See Law 34.4 (Runs to be
scored from a ball lawfully struck more than once).
 Already covered under Law 34
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