Batsmen no longer able to ask for bad light
LONDON, England (AP) — Batsmen will no longer be able to ask for play to be called off because of bad light in one of eight minor changes to the laws of cricket set to take effect today.
The Marylebone Cricket Club says the changes are “aimed at providing more fairness to both sides and reducing the amount of playing time lost”.
The MCC — the custodian of the laws of the game — says umpires alone will have the right to decide whether play can be halted because of darkness. That will eliminate the practice of batting sides stopping play for tactical reasons.
The other changes include an umpire being required to attend the pre-match toss and the winning captain having to decide whether to bat or bowl immediately.