Cricket laws change: New batter on strike even if batters 'cross' on catch from October

New batters will be on strike for the next ball even if the players in the middle cross while a catch is taken in all cricket from 1 October.

The change, first seen in The Hundred, comes in a laws update from the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), guardians of cricket's laws and spirit.

The ban of using saliva to shine the ball, introduced because of Covid-19, will also become a permanent change.

More leeway will be given for wides when batters move in their crease.

In a further change, the controversial 'Mankad' dismissal — where a bowler runs out the non-striker in their delivery stride if the non-striker is backing up and has left their crease — is moved from the 'unfair play' section (Law 41) to be included alongside other run-outs (Law 38).

Other amendments include «dead ball» being called if either side is disadvantaged by a person, animal or object on the field of play.

The rule change which ensures the new batsman is always on strike is designed to reward the bowler for taking a wicket.

The only time a new batter will not face the next delivery is if the wicket falls at the end of an over.