SPORTS EDGE

Cricket
Decisions, decisions
Agencies, Dubai

The ICC's annual conference week, which began on Sunday, has included two-day meetings involving the ICC Chief Executives' Committee (CEC) and the ICC Board. Among the different issues discussed and decided upon were the following:

FREE HITS PREVAIL

The current playing condition relating to free hits following a foot fault no-ball in One-Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals is retained.

BATSMEN TO PICK POWERPLAY OVERS

The batting team will be permitted to choose when one of either the second or third PowerPlays takes place in ODIs.It was also agreed that three fielders be permitted outside the field restriction areas during both the second and third PowerPlays. Previously the third fielder was allowed outside the circle during either the second or third PowerPlay. The idea behind the amendment is to offer greater opportunity for spinners to bowl with the safety net of more protection for spinners.

ELIMINATOR REPLACES BOWL-OUT

Both the ICC Champions Trophy 2008 and the ICC World Twenty20 2009 include a provision for a one-over eliminator to replace a bowl-out in the event of a tie.The eliminator will be applicable in the semifinals and the final in the Champions Trophy and all matches in the ICC World Twenty20.The loss of two wickets by the batting side ends its innings. If the scores are equal then the team that has hit the most sixes combined from its two innings in the main match and the one-over eliminator is declared the winner. If the scores are still equal at that point then they will be separated by determining which of them scored the most boundaries -- fours and sixes -- in both innings.

NO COMFORT BREAKS

Substitute fielders shall only be permitted in cases of injury, illness or other wholly acceptable reasons. 'Wholly acceptable reasons' should be limited to extreme circumstances and should not include what is commonly referred to as a 'comfort break'.

CLEAN CATCHES

Should both umpires be unable to make a decision, they may consult by two-way radio with the third umpire as to whether there is any definitive evidence as to whether the catch was taken cleanly or not. Following such consultation, the final decision will be made and given by the bowler's end umpire. Should the bowler's end umpire still not be able to decide, a not-out decision shall be given.

CHANGING OF BALLS IN ODIs

It was agreed to continue with the playing condition that requires a mandatory change of ball at the commencement of the 35th over in ODIs.

INTERVALS IN ODIs

It was agreed the playing conditions be amended so that the interval is reduced by the amount of actual playing time lost, up to a maximum of 15 minutes, rather than the current requirement of reducing the interval to 30 minutes only after more than 60 minutes have been lost.It was also agreed that, “Where the innings of the side batting first is delayed or interrupted, the Umpires will reduce the length of the interval.“In the event of time being lost (playing time lost less any extra time provided) up to and including 60 minutes in aggregate, the length of the interval shall be reduced from 45 to 30 minutes. In the event of more than 60 minutes being lost in aggregate, the duration of the interval shall be agreed mutually by the Umpires and both Captains subject to no interval being of more than 30 minutes' duration or less than 10 minutes' duration. In the event of disagreement, the length of the interval shall be determined by the ICC Match Referee.”

LLOYD REPLACES GAVASKAR

The ICC Board selected former West Indies captain and ex-ICC match referee Clive Lloyd as the new Chairman of the ICC Cricket Committee.Mr Lloyd was selected ahead of the other nominee for the role, the former Pakistan captain Majid Khan. Mr Lloyd replaces Sunil Gavaskar, the ex-Indian captain, who stood down in May after eight years in the role.