Proposing Radical Change


Time and again we witness the demise of competition in Test Cricket.  It is, as I write this, looking as if we are about to see the same happen again.  Now, I’m English, and yes, I would like England to win.  But, I would like to see a fair victory!  This Third Test in the Ashes Series, between England and Australia, represents Australia’s last opportunity to give themselves a fighting chance to win the series, having already lost two of the five matches.  And even looking back at what has already gone before, this series has been plagued by bad umpiring.  It’s time to find ways to fix the problems!  I am, therefore, making a few proposals for changes to the Laws of Cricket, specifically Test Cricket, and some may be rather radical.

  1. Hot Spot: a minimum value of mark brightness should be required, below which, Hot Spot will not be deemed to be conclusive.
  2. Snicko: no consideration will be given to sounds detected, whether using the Snickometer system or the stump microphones alone, due to the innumerable interfering sounds which may mislead the umpire.  All reviews will be performed with the volume set to zero.
  3. Hawkeye: the ball will be deemed to have been on target for striking the stumps if any part of its diameter is demonstrated to be doing so.
  4. Time wasting will continue to be punishable by fine but it will also incur immediate run penalties.  This, time wasting by the batting side will result in the deduction of 18 runs from their score, for ach instance.  Equally, time wasting by the bowling side will result in the addition of of 18 runs to the batting side’s score, in each case.  Fines will also be increased in value and additional fines will be levied against the Head Coach and Governing Body of the team concerned.
  5. In the event that the weather interferes in the match, whatever score prevails at the completion of one innings per team shall be deemed to be the match result.  If it is impossible to complete even one innings per team, A One Day (ODI) match shall be played at the first clear day after the assigned Test match days and the result of such ODI will be deemed to be the result for the Test match.
  6. In the event that a gross error is made in the decision of an umpire in the field, the third umpire shall have the right to intervene and correct the call, without dispute by the erroneous umpire.
  7. The third umpire shall be subject to the oversight of a representative of each team plus a match referee.  Any dispute over the third umpire’s decision will be subject to a ruling by the match referee following an appeal by a team representative.
  8. If an error is discovered after completion of an innings, an adjustment to the batting team’s score is permitted.  If the error was in favour of the bowling side, then the batting team’s score will be increased by fifty runs.  If the error was in favour of the batting side, then their score will be decreased by fifty runs.  If the error is a general error, such as the awarding of runs incorrectly, for example awarding a six when this should have been a four, then the batting side’s score will be adjusted as appropriate by the exact number of runs.
  9. If a run is taken and a fielder attempts a run-out by throwing the ball into the stumps, and the ball strikes the stumps and displaces the bails, then the play will be declared dead and the batsmen may not score additional runs as overthrows.
  10. When making an appeal under the Decision Review System (DRS), a successful appeal shall not reduce the number of appeals available.  Two consecutive correct appeals will increase the number of appeals available by one.  If the umpire in the field has ruled either out or not out but there is any evidence that raises doubt about the decision, the decision will be reversed, i.e. any one element which disagrees with the umpire’s call will constitute sufficient evidence to reverse the decision. There will be no umpire’s call override of the review process.
  11.   Each team will be entitled to the making of up to two substitutions during their bowling turn, such substitutes have full rights as active players, to perform any role normal to the game.  Such full substitutions will equate to the rights of the batting side in respect of injured batsmen, especially correcting the current failing of the system whereby an injury to a bowler can seriously disadvantage a team.  Casual substitutions will not be allowed for the first fifteen minutes of a player leaving the field for medical treatment or any other reason.  Bowlers who have left the field for any reason may not then return and bowl immediately.  At least three overs must pass before they are allowed to bowl again.  An injured batsman may opt to leave the field for treatment with the right to return later.  In addition, the right to have a runner will be restored for a batsman suffering an injury or cramp, to help avoid further injury to the player.  The runner must wear the same equipment, in every respect, as the injured batsman.

Just how I see a way forward that would increase the chance for a fair, result-driven Test Series and address some of the problems currently being experienced.

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