Cricket Governing Body makes a slew of changes to playing conditions

The Cricket Governing Body has made some big changes which are much needed to the playing conditions. They have also tweaked the free-hit rule. The Cricket Governing Body has made a lot of changes all of which will be in force from the World Test Championship final which will feature India and Australia.

They are as follows: The Cricket Governing Body has decided to do away with the soft signal rule. Along with that, helmets have been made compulsory when the wicketkeeper is standing up to the stumps. They also have to be worn when the batter faces fast bowlers and also by close-in fielders, who are stationed in front of the wicket.

The free-hit rule was talked about in the India-Pakistan 20 -20 World Cup clash

The Free-hit rule gets a small change as well. The amendment is as follows,  “a minor addition” to the Free Hit rule as well: “Any runs scored off a Free Hit when the ball hits the stumps counted as runs scored from now. This would mean that batters can now be bowled off a Free Hit and attempt a run for the same.” The free-hit rule was a big talking point when India faced Pakistan at the MCG in the 20-20 World Cup.

When India needed 5 off 3 balls, Virat Kohli could not play the sweep shot properly of a free-hit ball, which was bowled by Mohammad Nawaz. The ball hit the stumps and went past Mohammad Rizwan the keeper. Then Kohli and Dinesh Karthik ran three byes. These runs were considered byes. Now, because of the rule change, it will be considered as runs for the batter.

To elaborate once again, if a batter misses a free hit and runs, then it will be called as byes (leg-byes if it hits the pads) – if and only if the ball does not go on to dislodge the bails. If that takes place, then the runs will count as scored off the bat and this will be accounted against the bowler’s tally as well.