Strategic leg side stumpings to be made illegal (kinda)

[PowerBug]

I received an email about the upcoming changes to the laws of cricket coming into effect October 1st (as I am an umpire), and I thought I would share them here. Two changes have been made, both concerning the movement of fielders.

Firstly wicketkeepers:

Law 40.4 Movement by wicket-keeper
After the ball comes into play and before it reaches the striker, it is unfair if the wicket-keeper significantly alters his position in relation to the striker’s wicket, except for the following:
(i) movement of a few paces forward for a slower delivery, unless in so doing it brings him
within reach of the wicket.
(ii) lateral movement in response to the direction in which the ball has been delivered.
(iii) movement in response to the stroke that the striker is playing or that his actions suggest he intends to play. However, the provisions of Law 40.3 (Position of wicketkeeper) shall apply.
In the event of unfair movement by the wicket-keeper, either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball.

And an explanation of (ii) which is the lateral movement is below:
It was felt unfair for a wicket-keeper who initially takes his position on the off side to be able to move to the on side before the ball is delivered to effect a ‘surprise’ stumping (having agreed with the bowler to bowl a ball outside leg stump). It was felt that this tactic falls into the same category as significant fielder movement and deceives the striker. Hence the wicket-keeper should be allowed to move laterally in response to the direction of the ball once it has been delivered, but not before. The exception to this being clause (iii). A wicket-keeper may start by standing on the leg-side, if he so wishes, but may not then move towards the off side until the ball has been released.

So essentially if a team plans a leg side stumping the keeper has to wait until the ball is bowled to move to the other side, whereas currently they do so as the bowler enters his delivery stride.


The second change is about the movement of fielders:

Law 41.7 Movement by fielders other than the wicket-keeper
Any movement by any fielder, excluding the wicket-keeper, after the ball comes into play and before the ball reaches the striker, is unfair except for the following:
(i) minor adjustments to stance or position in relation to the striker’s wicket.
(ii) movement by any fielder, other than a close fielder, towards the striker or the striker’s wicket that does not significantly alter the position of the fielder.
(iii) movement by any fielder in response to the stroke that the striker is playing or that his actions suggest he intends to play.

Notwithstanding (iii) above, in all circumstances Law 41.5 (Limitation of on side fielders) shall apply. In the event of such unfair movement, either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball.
Note also the provisions of Law 42.4 (Deliberate attempt to distract striker). See also Law 40.4 (Movement by wicket-keeper).

So the change in here is that this catch by Steve Smith which was technically illegal at the time will now be made legal as by (iii) above.


I just thought I would share that for everyone :)

[colmullet]

Hmm you don't see it to much these days i guess (more of an indoor cricket play i've found), but still when it's pulled off its great to watch so from that point of view i reckon they should allow it (bit like the switch hit i guess)

[henry]

Don't like these, always liked the strategic stumping. If batsmen are able to dance down the wicket, reverse their hands or back away etc before a ball is bowled, why shouldn't fielders be able to? I get it might make sense if someone was charging in from 10m away to right under your eyeline and distracting you, but that isn't happening.

Don't like these changes, yet another movement in favour of the batsmen.