DUBAI: New batters will come in at the striker’s end after a catching dismissal even if those in the middle had crossed, the International Cricket Council said on Tuesday as it detailed several changes to playing conditions.

Crossing allows an incoming player a little more time to get up to speed and could prove crucial in tight contests in limited-overs cricket.

The ICC’s new rule comes into effect on Oct 1, though the Hundred competition in England has already introduced such a change.

“When a batter is out caught, the new batter will come in at the end the striker was, regardless of whether the batters crossed prior to the catch being taken,” the ICC said. “Previously, in case the batters crossed before a catch was taken, the new batter would be at the non-striker’s end.”

The time taken by an incoming batter to take strike in Tests and One-day Internationals is now reduced from three minutes to two while in T20 internationals it remains at 90 seconds.

The governing body has also permanently banned the use of saliva to polish the ball. It had temporarily banned the practice to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

“The ban on saliva use has been in place for over two years in international cricket as a Covid-related temporary measure and it is considered appropriate for the ban to be made permanent,” the ICC statement said.

It also clamped down on slow over rates in One-day Internationals following recommendations by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of the game’s laws.

As in Twenty20 Internationals, teams failing to bowl their full quota within the stipulated time will have to bring an additional player inside the 30-yard circle for the remainder of the innings.

This rule will come into effect after the conclusion of men’s World Cup Super League in 2023.

The ICC also said the running out of the non-striker will no longer be classed under “unfair play”.

The controversial running out of a non-striker encroaching out of his crease by the bowler is now legitimised after being moved from the “Unfair Play” section of the rules to the “Run Out” section.

“Running out a non-striker for backing up too much will now be considered as a regular run out,” the ICC said.

The dismissal was famously dubbed a “Mankad” named after India bowler who ran out Australia batsman Bill Brown in the 1948 Sydney Test.

But bowlers will no longer be allowed to attempt to run out the striker by advancing down the wicket before entering their delivery stride and throwing at the stumps. If they make such an attempt, it will be called a dead ball.

One of the other new rules says if fielders make any unfair and deliberate movements while the bowler is running in to bowl, the batting side can be awarded five penalty runs.

Another change allows the use of hybrid pitches at all men’s and women’s one-day and Twenty20 internationals.

Hybrid pitches, a blend of natural grass with artificial turf, have only been previously used in women’s T20 internationals.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2022