Martin-Jenkins C: ICC attempt to bring back element of surprise (7Jul94)

Bouncer rule modified to two per over

ICC attempt to bring back element of surprise without encouraging intimidation.

Sir Clyde Walcott, re-elected yesterday as chairman of the International Cricket Council for the next three years, announced an end to the current one bouncer per batsman per over rule which has applied in Test cricket for the last three years. Most players have been against it, but it has to some extent succeeded in curbing consistent spells of intimidatory bowling and what replaces it will, in effect, be much the same. For the next three years, starting on Oct 1, the Australian proposal of a maximum of two bouncers an over, regardless of the batsmen on the receiving end, will apply. This will restore the important element of surprise to the bowler, at least to the limit of two bouncers, which will still be defined as balls which would have bounced over the shoulder of a batsman standing upright at the crease. Any idea that administrators are giving bowlers a licence to maim has been counteracted by two important qualifications. Firstly, there will now be a penalty of two runs for the no-ball which would result if a bowler exceeds his quota. This should go some way towards redressing any possible increase in the amount of short-pitched balls, especially as a no-ball bumper hooked for six would now count eight against the bowler. (Sir Clyde, with no time to consider the implications, denied this, but it must be so, since one run scored off a no-ball would count three to the batting side: one to the batsman, two to the team for the noball.) Secondly, the new "experimental law," which will only supersede Law 42, note eight, for Test cricket purposes, not at any lower levels, will replace reference to intimidation with an emphasis on whether or not a batsman is likely to get hurt. Test umpires will have to replace the first and second paragraphs of the law with the following, which was approved at the conference of the international umpires and by the ICC's cricket committee: "The bowling of fast short-pitched balls is unfair if the umpire at the bowler's end considers that by their repetition, and taking into account their length, height and direction, they are likely to inflict physical injury on the striker, irrespective of protective equipment and taking into account the relative skill of the striker." This wording can be invoked regardless of whether there have been two bouncers in an over. In other words if a batsman looks like getting hurt (as in the case of Courtney Walsh bowling at Devon Malcolm in Jamaica) it will be the umpire's duty to step in quickly. So, of course, it was before, but it is felt that the new wording is more specific.

Not all the other proposed improvements to the conduct of Test cricket were ratified at the meeting which ends with a final session this morning. The minimum number of overs in a day will remain at 90 (15 an hour) and not be increased to 96 (16 an hour) though the latter is frequently shown to be possible when it suits a team to bowl them, especially in cooler climates. Moreover, the move to end the rule that the number of overs left in a day must be recalculated when an innings ends has failed. Sides on the defensive in the third innings (for example in the last two Bridgetown Tests between West Indies and England) can still therefore slow things down to avoid having to face extra overs when the fourth innings starts. Experiments with third umpires and referees will continue, but there will be fewer referees employed by the ICC at National Grid's expense in future and they will be urged to take a much tougher line, especially for second offences by a player against the code of conduct. The implication is that players will be suspended rather than fined in future if they repeatedly get reported for sledging or dissent. "We are opposed to indiscipline in any form," said Sir Clyde firmly. There will only be one change to the panel of 20 ICC umpires: Barry Lambson, who stood at Old Trafford in England's last Test but whose performance there had nothing to do with the decision, has been replaced by Cyril Mitchley as one of South Africa's two representatives. Other decisions included: Any player representing a country at under-19 level or over will only be allowed to play for another country after a four-year residence or, if he has been born in another country, after two years. No country will in future be allowed to stage a tournament involving more than three other countries, in order to keep the World Cup special. The next World Cup in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will run from Feb 14 to March 17, 1996. The following cup will be in England in 1999, then in South Africa in 2003. After that the tournament will be held every four years, not every three as agreed before. Majid Khan will replace Imran Khan on the ICC's cricket committee. The two men have not spoken for years. A batsman who has not fielded for the whole of the other side's innings will not be able to bat immediately. (The English regulation to apply). Australia A's matches this winter will not be official one-day internationals. Scotland have been elected as associate members of the ICC. Applications by Italy, Nepal and Thailand were deferred until next year.

(Excerpt from a Christopher Martin-Jenkins' article in The Daily Telegraph)