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.
Leverock ready for Southern Spartans debut in India
IslandStats.com
The Big Cricket League has officially confirmed that its second season will take place from March 11th to March 22nd, 2026. The announcement marks the next stage in the development of the world’s first Pro-Am cricket league, a format designed to bridge the gap between seasoned professionals and emerging amateur talent.
Among the standout selections in the recent draft is Bermudian all-rounder Kamau Leverock, who has been recruited by the Southern Spartans. Leverock is widely regarded as one of the most explosive talents in associate cricket, and his inclusion is expected to provide the Spartans with significant firepower at the top of the order and versatility with the ball.
For Leverock, this tournament represents a vital opportunity to return to the global stage. The powerful left-hander was forced to miss the inaugural World Legends Pro League T20 in India earlier this year following a devastating visa delay that saw him sidelined despite being a marquee signing.
The Spartans' management expressed confidence that Leverock’s aggressive style of play will thrive in the BCL's fast-paced environment. Having missed out on his previous opportunity in India, the Bermudian will be particularly keen to prove his worth and make a lasting impression during the twelve-day window in March.
As the BCL continues to evolve, the inclusion of international figures like Leverock highlights the league's ambition to expand its reach. With the dates now set, the countdown begins for what promises to be a high-octane showcase of the Pro-Am format.
Friday, February 13, 2026
Eastern County 2026 Series at Lord’s in St. David’s
IslandStats.com
The Eastern County Cricket Association has moved early to heighten the anticipation for the 2026 season, confirming that this year’s historic series will be staged at the iconic Lord’s in St. David’s. The announcement sets the stage for what many are predicting to be a defining summer in the competition's long and storied history, as the balance of power in the East End remains on a knife-edge.
Over the last decade, the race for the silverware has been a tale of two titans. Since 2016, through a mixture of outright victories, gritty retentions, and hard-fought draws, St. David’s and Bailey’s Bay have dominated the landscape. The two heavyweights currently sit level with four series victories apiece over that ten-year span, creating a statistical deadlock that adds an extra layer of intensity to the 2026 campaign.
However, the current narrative belongs to Cleveland County. The reigning cup holders enter the series as the team with the target on their backs, having successfully navigated the treacherous waters of the 2025 season. Their mission is simple yet formidable: repel the advances of the traditional powerhouses who are desperate to return the trophy to their respective clubhouses.
The road to glory begins on Saturday, July 18th, when Cleveland County face a massive opening test against Bailey's Bay. The challenger will be looking to leverage their historical success to unseat the champions at the first time of asking. The winner of that blockbuster opening clash will then return to the crease on Saturday, August 15th to take on Flatt's Victoria, a side famously capable of upsetting the established order.
The grand finale is scheduled for Saturday, August 29th, where the winner of the second round will meet the hosts, St. David's. With the home crowd behind them and the chance to pull ahead of Bailey’s Bay in the ten-year standings, the Warriors will be eyeing a historic conclusion to the summer. As the community prepares for the unique atmosphere of Eastern County cricket, all eyes remain on Cleveland to see if they can weather the storm and extend their reign at the top.
Monday, February 09, 2026
North American Cup Dates Confirmed as BCB Silence Continues
IslandStats.com
The second edition of the North American Cup T20 International tournament has been confirmed for the Cayman Islands this April, even as questions persist regarding the preparation of the Bermudian national side.
The tournament, scheduled to run from April 4th to the 12th, will see the host nation welcome the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. The USA will arrive as defending champions, having secured the inaugural title in the Cayman Islands during the first edition of the event in April 2025.
Following the successful blueprint of the inauguration edition, the competition will feature a single round-robin group stage. Every nation will face each other once, with the top-performing sides progressing to the semi-finals before the showpiece final decides the destination of the trophy.
While the regional schedule is now set, the internal state of Bermuda’s national program remains shrouded in uncertainty. The Bermuda Cricket Board (BCB) has yet to respond to formal inquiries regarding the team’s training status and coaching structure.
Previous reports indicated a coaching panel had been formed to prepare the squad, but the setup was quickly mired in controversy when high-profile figure Janeiro Tucker publicly denied any involvement in the new national panel. Despite these conflicting accounts, the BCB has declined to clarify if and when formal training has commenced, opting instead to utilize alternative media channels while avoiding direct questions regarding their readiness for the Cayman trip.
As the clock ticks down to the April start, the lack of official communication from the BCB continues to be a source of frustration for those following Bermuda’s path to the tournament.
Friday, February 06, 2026
Bean-Rosario Reflects on Historic T20 Triumph
IslandStats.com
For any young athlete, a national team call-up is the stuff of dreams. For Bermudian cricketer Katherine Bean-Rosario, that dream was realized in spectacular fashion as she helped the Leeward Islands secure their first-ever Cricket West Indies (CWI) T20 Blaze title.
The Leeward Islands, traditionally the underdogs of the regional circuit, defied all expectations to finish the tournament undefeated, clinching the trophy via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method in a rain-affected finale.
Bean-Rosario’s journey to the senior squad was a rapid one. Having previously starred for the Leeward Islands Under-19s, she was called up to the senior ranks for the 2026 campaign—a move that caught even the player herself by surprise.
"It was very exciting, especially it being my debut," Bean-Rosario told BBC Sport. "I never expected to play my first game for the senior team during the first game of the tournament. I kind of expected to sit on the side and watch."
Despite the nerves of the senior stage, the coaching staff’s message was simple: trust the skills that brought her there. "They were just telling me to have faith in myself," she recalled. "It’s nothing new compared to the Under-19s; I can still use all the skills I have and just take it on the field with the women’s team."
While she is known as a capable batter—memorably striking a vital six against Barbados during the tournament—it was her energy in the field that drew significant praise from the Leeward Islands management. Bean-Rosario was a constant presence in the highlight reels, contributing a catch and a crucial run-out assist during the victory over Guyana.
"My captain told me multiple times not to focus on mistakes and once again just to play my game," she said. "The whole team had good spirits throughout the entire thing. It was never any bad vibes; we just kept our spirits high."
The significance of the victory was not lost on the squad. Prior to the 2026 tournament, the Leeward Islands had never won back-to-back games in the T20 Blaze, let alone the entire championship.
"Nobody expected us to win at all," Bean-Rosario admitted. "I don’t think Leewards has ever won even two games in a row. So hearing that from the start of the tournament... once we got to that three-game mark and we were halfway, it was just like, 'How can we stop?'"
Though she sat out the rain-delayed semi-final to allow teammates who hadn't featured to gain experience, Bean-Rosario remains a central figure in the Leeward Islands' long-term plans. With the Super50 Cup following immediately after the T20 success, the young Bermudian is already looking to refine her game.
"I’m satisfied with what I gave, especially because I didn’t really have any prior practice coming into the tournament," she noted. "I was only in the training camp for about four days, so that’s not really enough. I’m definitely going to focus on the sport to get better for next year."
