Cricket laws updated with 73 key changes, including bowled out rule

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), cricket’s law-making body, announced 73 key changes in the latest edition of cricket laws on 3 February. Among these, law 32 has been updated, which relates to the rules for being bowled out.

Fraser Stewart, law manager at MCC, explained on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast why the change was needed. He said that while the bowled out law seems simple, a situation in a junior match prompted a review.

The incident occurred last season in an under-18 match between Gloucestershire and Somerset. A Gloucestershire batsman played a strong straight drive. The ball did not hit the bowler but struck the non-striker’s stumps, then bounced back to hit the striker’s stumps. According to the previous law, the batsman was not out because the ball first touched another object before hitting the stumps. The law was not clear about the ball touching the non-striker’s stumps first.

Stewart said the new law now clarifies that if the ball first hits the non-striker’s stumps, the striker cannot be given out bowled.

The 2022 version of law 32 stated that if a bowler’s delivery breaks the striker’s stumps, the striker is out, even if the ball hits the bat or body first. However, if the ball touches another player or umpire before hitting the stumps, the striker is not out. In such cases, the striker may still be subject to laws on obstructing the field, running out, or being stumped.

The updated law 32.1.2 now explicitly mentions that if the ball touches another player, the non-striker’s stumps, or an umpire before hitting the striker’s stumps, the striker will not be bowled out. The striker may still fall under laws 37, 38, and 39 regarding obstructing the field, running out, or stumping.

Stewart noted that while such situations are rare, more matches are being streamed, including club and junior games. This has shown unusual events in the field more frequently. He said this incident is one such example that seemed improbable, but it has actually happened.