Red cards could be coming to a cricket field near you by the end of 2017 if the MCC world cricket committee’s proposed changes to the laws of the game are ratified.
The introduction of a red card was one of a number of recommendations made by the world cricket committee, alongside placing a limit on the size of cricket bats, allowing batsmen to be given out after being caught off a fielder’s helmet, and making cricket an Olympic sport by 2024.
However, the committee did not recommend making any changes to the law governing ball tampering, claiming the current rules are clear enough.
Ball tampering was placed under the spotlight following South Africa’s demolition of Australia in the second Test at Hobart, with Proteas captain Faf du Plessis caught by Channel Nine’s cameras using a mint to help shine the ball.
Du Plessis was later found guilty of ball tampering by the ICC and hit with a fine, although he is appealing his decision.
Regardless of the decision, the case raised issues around what an “artificial substance” is, and what exactly comprised ball tampering. However, the world cricket committee argued that specifying certain substances as prohibited would not help the matter.
“To try to be too prescriptive by listing banned substances would be counterproductive, as something will be missed in the process of such drafting,” the committee said in a statement.
The proposed introduction of the send-off law is designed to reduce the instances of violence and other “serious disciplinary breaches.” While not an issue currently plaguing top-tier cricket, it has got “completely out of hand” at park and grade levels, according to Ricky Ponting, who sits on the world cricket committee.
“We have got to the stage that something had to be done to prevent these things happening,” the former Australian captain said.
The recommendation is designed to remedy cricket’s current position of it being one of the few sports without any on-field ramifications for illegal behaviour – players can, in theory, fight with another player or verbally abuse an umpire and continue playing unhindered – however, the red card would be reserved for the most serious offences.
However, it’s unlikely to make an appearance in international cricket. Ponting and world cricket committee chairman Mike Brearley could only identify a single incident in an international match that would merit a red card – Dennis Lillee’s infamous run-in with Javed Miandad at the WACA during the 1980s.
Brearly said the recommendations would help protect umpires and ensure they remain respected.
“A recent survey by Portsmouth University showed that 40 per cent of British umpires were considering giving up because of verbal abuse,” the former England captain said.
“And anecdotal evidence from people familiar with leagues in part of England suggests that on-field behaviour is much worse than it was.
“The umpires have to be respected.”
Unlike in football and rugby, the recommendation does not include the inclusion of a yellow card for less grievous breaches, although an appendix to the law would allow individual organisations to create such a punishment for their own competitions.
The restrictions on the size of bats would, however, apply to all cricket competitions.
While the recommendation isn’t designed to “turn the clocks back too far,” it will seek to address to current imbalance between bat and ball by restricting the maximum edge size to 40mm and the maximum total depth of the bat to 67mm.
“The committee… wants to draw a line in the sand and target mis-hits that are clearing the boundary ropes for six,” the committee said.
“Many of the top players’ bats have edges of between 38mm and 42mm, but there are some which have edges of up to 50mm, which was felt to be excessive and in need of restriction.”
The other mooted change to the laws would see batsmen able to be dismissed via a catch or stumping even if the ball hits a helmet worn by a fielder or the wicketkeeper. Under the current laws, any stumpings or catches are given ‘not out’ if the ball his a helmet.
The full MCC committee will now meet in February of next year to decide whether or not to ratify the recommendations. Should they decide in favour of the proposed amendments – and it is the commonly-held belief that is exactly what will happen – they will then become part of the official Laws of the Game on Ovtober 1, 2017.
All law changes are automatically adopted by the ICC in their Playing Handbook – the rules which international cricket are played under. However, the ICC could choose to not accept the changes, and instead amend the handbook to not include the amendments.
You can find the full statement from the MCC’s world cricket committee here.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Didn't they tell golfers that they couldn't use the long putter recently. Something that Adam Scott had to deal with. In Addition to all the swimmers in the body suits. Its sport. They try new things and sometimes the governing body needs to step in to stop it.
anon
Guest
Pathetic ad hominem attack on me. Aussies really are a thin skinned lot.
anon
Guest
"The comment is not meant to be a reflection on any culture. The game is played differently in different places. In India while there is some sledging between players it’s pretty mild and there is absolutely none that I know of involving umpires. That is indeed a cultural thing not to show disrespect." As a white Australian male I can say that it's completely a reflection on the culture of countries like the UK and Australia. Just step into any nightlife precinct on a Friday and Saturday night to see how Aussie males behave when alcohol removes the "happy go lucky how's it goin' mate" facade. White Australian males are aggressive whether on the road, in pubs, or on the cricket field. Politeness and consideration for others is perceived as weakness. "This has never been an issue at any level and that’s a fact. The aggression that you see in indian players today was a cultural change brought about by Sourav Ganguly to counter Steve Waugh’s Aussie team’s aggression and build a mindset that winning against the best was possible. And that changed the way Indian teams behaved on the field. Hope my point is clearer now." I agree again. I had to laugh when the Aussie team was complaining about Kohli's sledging a couple years ago. I a lot of Australians don't see people from South-East Asia or places like India as "equals". If the same sledges were coming from and English, South African or New Zealand player the Aussie cricketers would take it in stride. From an Indian player it's a case of "how dare you speak to me like that".
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Well Ronan I have played plenty of Cricket In india in local leagues over many years and was speaking from my personal experience. Not much there is that i can do if that doesn't resonate with your experience in Thailand (which is absolutely irrelevant in the context of how the game is played in India rather than "by Indians" as you so nicely suggest) where I have admittedly never played Cricket, Nor if you believe "it doesn't ring true".
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"In India while there is some sledging between players it’s pretty mild and there is absolutely none that I know of involving umpires. That is indeed a cultural thing not to show disrespect." Really? Because I have played several seasons of cricket in Thailand where 50% of the players are Indian and they 1) Sledge plenty 2) Regularly remonstrate with the umpires and complain fiercely about decisions. That's not to suggest Indians behave worse than any other nationality - we have Australians, Poms, Kiwis, Saffas, Sri Lankans, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis, West Indians and Thais in our competition too - but it doesn't ring true to me when you say Indian players rarely sledge or remonstrate with umpires.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
Thanks Paul ?
Paul D
Roar Guru
Yeah but they only get away with that once in social cricket. Usually there is an umpire standing behind the stumps and a player from the batting team at square leg And if they are struggling to find umpires and umpiring is done by the players I think you have just answered the question as to why red cards are needed. I've umpired grade a few times. Got great reviews. They have asked me to come back. But why would I? $100 for the day to be abused by a bunch of unhappy morons who argue all day with you? Why would I bother? I earn enough to get by without the abuse, the aggravation and the future melanomas. They can go whistle. If grade cricketers want better umpires create a better culture.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Anindya, anon is filled with self-loathing so I wouldn't take his grumblings too seriously. He hates his white privilege with a passion.
Tim
Guest
It is interesting that with all the hoopla about ball tampering of late that finally something has been done to halt the rampant 'bat tampering' though not nearly enough to even up the game and bring back credibility
Don Freo
Guest
Gilly used a smaller/lighter bat than most. It might help Davy with improved bat speed.
Anindya Dutta
Roar Guru
The comment is not meant to be a reflection on any culture. The game is played differently in different places. In India while there is some sledging between players it's pretty mild and there is absolutely none that I know of involving umpires. That is indeed a cultural thing not to show disrespect. This has never been an issue at any level and that's a fact. The aggression that you see in indian players today was a cultural change brought about by Sourav Ganguly to counter Steve Waugh's Aussie team's aggression and build a mindset that winning against the best was possible. And that changed the way Indian teams behaved on the field. Hope my point is clearer now.
Don Freo
Guest
John the Bookie will have a field day and umpires could become very wealthy.
Rob
Guest
It's about time the bat size rules were looked into. You have bat width and length regulations, but no depth and edge restrictions? You can't have poorly hit shots continuously clearing the boundary. Players are setting new records every season and dimensioning the achievements of generations past. It has actually become dangerous now. How about mandatory helmets for fields men inside 7m in front of the wicket or leg side? Red cards make no sense to me. I've seen some stupid behaviour from both players and umpires at all levels over more than 30 years but I'm not sure a red card will help? Some people shouldn't be umpires just like some people shouldn't play the game. Red cards could be a recipe for disaster. Players get reported and suspended much more now days. It works.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
So Warner is going to be pissed! Does he have an avenue for appeal? This could throw a real spanner into his game. He's been using a bat that is bigger than the new regulations for a long time now. Being told to use a smaller bat all of a sudden could take some serious getting used to. Imagine telling one of the worlds best surfers he has to use a smaller board, a tennis player a lighter racket, a darts player a lighter dart, a golf player a lighter or smaller driver?
Andy
Guest
i think the edge is way more important than how heavy the bat is. the sweet spot is bigger and you can hit the ball farther but you still have to hit the ball properly whereas the fat edges allow batsmen to stuff up the shot as much as you can and have it go for six. heavy bats only makes it easier to do something, fat edges rewards stuffing up.
Mike Dugg
Guest
Yes I agree. In India no players sledge or do the wrong thing
Rellum
Roar Guru
The bat size thing seems to be going about it the wrong way. Legislating on edge width/ and depth can easily be circumvented. The law should be about total volume/mass of the bat. And how to you bring that rule into lower levels of cricket, or just not bother. You will have a bunch of guys carrying around their big bats for a few seasons. At least the modern bats are more brittle so they would fall apart quickly. The red card thing sounds like a idea that could back fire. I could imagine it would encourage teams like Aus/or aggressive sledgers in grade cricket to goad players they think could explode. At least they have highlighted an extreme example of what it would take to get a red card.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I am in favour of the bat sizes, good move. No way will they have a red card system.
anon
Guest
Disturbing reflection on English and Australian culture.
XI
Roar Guru
I'm fine with all of these changes. I always found most of these respective rules a little weird anyway.