The Marylebone Cricket Club made a radical change in ICC fielding law to promote ‘intelligent fielding’
The custodian of the cricket Marylebone Cricket Club made a radical change in ICC’ fielding law of cricket. The new law will allow more freedom to the fielders to move when a batsman alters their position at the crease.
The change follows an adjustment of the ICC’s playing conditions at the start of the 2014-15 season made in anticipation of the MCC’s Law change which allowed fielders to respond to the movements made by a batsman if it became obvious that he intends to play the ball in a certain direction.
The proposal for ICC’s playing conditions came to the fore last October when Steve Smith predicted the freakish shot of Pakistan batsman Fawad Alam in the third ODI in Abu Dhabi.
Fielding at first slip, Steve Smith moved to the right when he observed Alam was trying to to play lap sweep as the delivery from spinner Xavier Doherty travelled down the pitch.
Alam, who was unaware that Smith changed his positions, swept the ball straight into the hands of the fieldsman and the Australian celebrated the catch.
On-field umpires Ahsan Raza and Richard Illingworth consulted mid-pitch and checked with third official Nigel Llong before eventually giving the batsman out.
Previously, under Laws 41.7 and 41.8, Smith’s movement would have resulted in a dead ball.
Now Law 41.7, governing movement by fielders other than the wicketkeeper, will promote “intelligent fielding”, allowing a player to move when it becomes obvious a batsman will play a certain shot.
Watch the video of Steve Smith’s controversial catch
John Stephenson, MCC’s head of Cricket said it was important MCC kept pace with the game’s development, with the change, designed to recognise such a movement as ‘intelligent fielding’ rather than as being deceptive.
“Steve Smith’s excellent catch in Abu Dhabi last year illustrated that such skillful anticipation by a fielder should be within the laws of the game, and these changes now make that the case,” Stephenson said.
However, fielder can’t change their positions before the batsman get prepared to play the next delivery.
After Smith’s catch last October, George Bailey said the Aussie players had been aware of the change to the ICC’s playing conditions.
Alam, who was caught unaware of the rule change, initially stood his ground before finally leaving for the dressing room with an angry swipe of his bat at the boundary rope.
“I could tell there was confusion because the umpires came together,” said Bailey.
“We knew the rule had changed … and to be honest, as it should.
“As a batsman you’re allowed to switch-hit, you’re allowed to do whatever you like.
“All he’s done is anticipate where the ball’s going to go.
“As a cricket lover, you’re just moving well in the field aren’t you?”