New cricket rules ban shining balls with saliva and emphasise Mankads as 'legitimate' dismissals

The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced a number of changes to the rules of the game, including an attempt to remove the stigma from so-called «Mankad» dismissals.

The changes — suggested by the MCC rules sub-committee, which dictates the rules of the game worldwide — have now been approved and will come into effect on October 1.

«The changes are intended to shape the game of cricket as it should be played,» the MCC said in a statement.

The colloquial term Mankad, named after Indian cricketer Vinoo Mankad, refers to a bowler running out the batsman at the non-striker's end when the batsman leaves his crease before the bowler's delivery stride is finished.

«Law 41.16 — running out the non-striker — has been moved from Law 41 (Unfair play) to Law 38 (Run out),» the MCC said.

«The wording of the law remains the same.»

The Mankad has been debated since a Test match between Australia and India in 1947, in which Mankad ran out Australia's Bill Brown after a number of warnings to remain in his crease.

Supporters of the rule say the onus should be on the batsman to hold his ground rather than trying to gain an unfair advantage, while opponents say the mode of dismissal is against the spirit of the game.

«The bowler is always painted as the villain but it is a legitimate way to dismiss someone and it is the non-striker who is stealing the ground,» MCC laws manager Fraser Stewart told the Times newspaper.

«It is legitimate, it is a run-out and therefore it should live in the run-out section of the laws.»

Among other moves, the MCC has resolved that no bowler or player can use saliva to help shine the ball.

This makes permanent a temporary move brought in to limit the spread of COVID.

Players switched to using sweat to polish the ball.