ICC introduces new cricket rules

Dubai, Sept 26: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced a number of changes to its playing conditions which will be effective in all series, starting September 28 or later.

The new rules would be implemented from the two upcoming Test series - when South Africa hosts Bangladesh and the one between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the United Arab Emirates.

The significant changes include a restriction on the dimensions of the bat, the introduction of player send-offs for misconduct and changes to the Decision Review System.

Size of the bat

# To maintain the balance between bat and ball, the size of the edges of the bats, as well as their thickness, will be restricted.The thickness of the edges can't be more than 40mm and the overall depth can be 67 mm at the most. Umpires will be issued with a new bat gauge to check a bat's legality.

Conduct of players

# A player can now be sent off the field for the rest of the match for any serious misconduct, meaning it will apply to Level 4 offenses which include Threatening to assault an umpire, Making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with an umpire, physically assaulting a player or any other person and committing any other act of violence.

Change in DRS

# A review will now not be lost in case of a decision that remains unchanged, solely as the result of an 'umpire's call'.

# As for DRS in Test matches, there will be no more top-up reviews after 80 overs of an innings DRS will now also be allowed to be used in T20Is.

Changes in Run Out

# If a batsman is running or diving towards the crease with forward momentum, and has grounded his/her bat behind the popping crease but subsequently has lost contact with the ground at the time of the wickets being put down, the batsman will not be run out. The same interpretation will also apply for a batsman trying to regain his/her ground to avoid being stumped.

# For boundary catches, airborne fielders making their first contact with the ball will need to have taken off from within the boundary, otherwise, a boundary will be scored.

# A batsman can now be out caught, stumped or run out even if the ball bounces off the helmet worn by a fielder or wicket-keeper.