Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced its new edition of the Laws of Cricket for 2026, which will come into force from October 1st.
This is the fourth edition of the 2017 Code of Laws. The second edition in 2019 was mostly clarification and minor amendments, but the 2022 edition made several significant changes.
This new edition has been drafted by MCC with two main principles in mind – that the Laws are up to date and fit for the modern game, and that they are inclusive for all.
MCC is publishing the Law changes now to allow them to be digested and understood before they come into force in October. Indeed, some of the changes have already been adopted as Playing Conditions by ICC and other Governing Bodies.
Some of the big talking points include:
1. The "Drama" Rule: No More Early Stumps
Perhaps the most significant change for Test and multi-day cricket is to Law 12.5.2.
The Change: If a wicket falls in the final over of a day’s play, stumps will no longer be called immediately. The incoming batter must now walk out, and the over must be completed in full (provided conditions allow).
The Reasoning: The MCC felt the previous rule was unfair to bowlers, as it let the incoming batter "off the hook" during a high-pressure period where bowling conditions are often at their peak.
2. Standardized Ball Sizes (Sizes 1, 2, and 3)
A major step for inclusivity and fairness in the women's and junior game.
The Change: Cricket balls are now officially categorized into three distinct, uniform sizes:
Size 1: The traditional "Men’s" ball (unchanged).
Size 2: The "Women’s" ball.
Size 3: The "Junior" ball.
The Impact: Previously, tolerances for smaller balls were wider, often leading to overlap where a "large" junior ball was bigger than a "small" women's ball. The new strict, uniform margins ensure consistent equipment for all pathways.
3. Laminated Bats Permitted in Adult Cricket
To combat the rising cost of equipment, the MCC has legalized Type D (laminated) bats for all open-age (adult) cricket.
The Details: These bats are made by bonding up to three pieces of wood together.
The Impact: While top-tier professionals will likely stick to single-piece willow, this allows manufacturers to use more of a willow tree, making high-quality bats more affordable for club and amateur players without providing a significant performance advantage.
4. Overthrows Finally Defined
For the first time in the history of the Laws, an "overthrow" has a formal definition (Law 19.8).
The Definition: An overthrow is now strictly defined as a deliberate attempt to throw the ball at the stumps to effect a run-out or prevent runs.
The Distinction: A misfield—even one that occurs while attempting to return the ball from the boundary—is officially distinct and will no longer be labeled an overthrow.
5. Tactical Penalties for "Short Running"
The fielding captain has been given a new tactical weapon to combat deliberate short runs.
The Penalty: If umpires deem a short run was deliberate, the fielding captain now has the power to choose which batter takes strike for the next delivery. This prevents a team from "gaming" the system to keep a set batter on strike.
6. Wicket-Keeper Positioning Relaxed
The MCC has acknowledged modern keeping techniques by relaxing Law 27.3.
The Change: Wicket-keepers will no longer be penalized (with a No-ball) for having their gloves marginally in front of the stumps during the bowler’s run-up.
The Catch: They must still be wholly behind the stumps at the moment of release, and they cannot move in front to collect the ball until it has passed the stumps or touched the batter.
Click Here to see the Full MCC New Edition of the Laws of Cricket for 2026
|
