M.C.C. Revises Rules On No-balls, Throwing

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29058, 21 November 1959, Page 15

M.C.C. Revises Rules On No-balls, Throwing

iN Z “rass AMucwtion—Copvnpnt)

LONDON, November 18. The M.C.C. today decided to follow the Australian lead by deleting the words “or jerked’Lfrom the cricket law concerning throwing. As an experiment for 1960 in Britain, the words "or jerked” will be removed from law 26 and the following note added: “A ball shall be deemed to have been thrown if, in the opinion of either umpire, thebe has been a sudden straightening

of the bowling arm, whether partial or complete, immediately prior to the delivery of the ball. “Immediately prior to the delivery of the ball will be taken to mean at any time the arm has risfen above the level of the shoulder in the delivery swing. “The bowler will not be debarred from the use of the wrist in delivering the ball.” It was agreed to notify the umpires that, when they consider it necessary to allow themselves tirrie for reflection, they are justified in delaying the calling of a no-ball.

It had been found that the umpires could not always judge a throw until the whole action was completed, by which time the ball was possibly past the batsman. So it will be possible in future for a no-ball to be called even after it has appeared that a batsman has been dismissed.

In controlling z bowlers who drag the M.C.C. will follow Australia’s lead in the experimental use of a white disc to mark the place behind which the bowler must land his back foot In his delivery stride.,

The effectiveness of the throw and drag experiments will eventually be discussed by the Imperial Conference with a view to ’framing uniform laws for cricket everywhere. Length of* Tests

The M.C.C. refused a request from South Africa that its tests in England next season should be limited to four days instead of five. *

South Africa was successful with its suggestion that the experimental English County Championship regulations of restricting the boundary to 75 yards and the limitation of leg-side fieldsmen to five should apply in their tests next summer. This will be the first time these experimental rules have been applied in test cricket The English County Championship next season will be based on an average points system, which was last used in 1939. Some counties will be playing 32 matches and others 28, and all games will count, whether a ball is bowled or not.