Off-side Bowlers Most Affected By New Rule

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32114, 9 October 1969, Page 19

Off-side Bowlers Most Affected By New Rule

The experimental lbw rule, which will be applied to all first-class cricket fixtures in New Zealand this season, and also at senior club level in Christchurch, might make wicket-taking more difficult for the off-spin and in-swing bowlers.

Under the old rale, an appeal of lbw. could be upheld if a batsman played back and was hit on the pad by a ball turning in form the offside.

However, under the new rule, provided that the batsman makes a genuine attempt to play a ball pitched on the off and coming in, and regardless of whether he is only a few inches from his wicket, he cannot be ruled out FRANTIC EFFORTS A batsman deceived by the flight of a “wrong-un” may be rapped on the pads but a frantic attempt to play the ball could prevent his dismissal. The new rule is: “The striker is out lbw if with any part of his person, except his hands, he intercepts a ball which has hot first touched his bat or hands, and which in the opinion of the umpire, would have hit the wicket, provided that either:

(a) the ball pitched in a straight line between wicket and wicket or,

(b) the ball pitched outside the batsman’s off-stump and in the opinion of the umpire he made no genuine attempt to play the ball with his bat”

Although the rule will reduce the chances of a bowler who brings the ball in from outside off-stump getting lbw decisions, the necessity for a batsman to play at the ball more often will be in the bowler’s favour. Another worth-while feature of the rule is that off-spin bowlers will now be on a par with leg-spinners, who have never had any grounds for seeking an lbw decision with a ball pitched outside leg-stump. An additional headache for umpires will be deciding if a batsman has made a genuine attempt to hit the ball. What constitutes a genuine attempt might vary from umpire to umpire. NOT TO BE DECEIVED However, this extra responsibility will not be new to umpires as in the past they have had to decide whether a batsman has played a stroke when considering a leg-bye. The batsman who plays a hook shot above his shoulders to a ball that went through to him at ankle height will probably not receive much sympathy from an umpire considering an appeal for lbw. The amendment, which is being given a year’s trial by the M.C.C., was previously in force until 1937 and has been reintroduced in an attempt to stamp out the excessive

pad play that has crept into the game in recent years. SENIOR GRADE ONLY

The new rule has also been adopted in Australia for firstclass matches this season and the New Zealand side to visit there after Christmas will play under it. The Canterbury Cricket Association has decided to adopt the rule for senior club matches only. It was felt there might be problems in lower grades where unqualified umpires officiate.

The new rule will not bother the skilled batsman who uses his bat for the purpose it was intended. On the other hand, it will present problems to toe player who in toe past has resorted to deliberate defensive tactics with his pads or used his boot to deflect a delivery.