Hit Wicket, final over rule among major updates

MCC has announced a set of updated rules on Tuesday (February 3). With 73 meaningful changes in a total of 10 rules. The updated rule is in effect in October 2026. In the meantime, there will be enough time to get accustomed to the new rules.

MCC updated the rules, keeping modern-day cricket in mind. Now, cricket is faster and more popular than before. The fast-paced nature of the game and the widespread popularity have influenced the updates to some degree.

List of MCC-approved new rules set to be in effect from October this year:

1. Size and weight of the ball:

The size and the weight of the ball will be dependent on the type of cricket. MCC has set three levels regarding this: Size 1, Size 2, and Size 3. 3. While Size 1 is mostly suggested for men’s cricket, the other two types of the ball will be used in junior and women’s cricket. “In fact, a small women’s ball was smaller and lighter than a big junior ball, which could allow manufacturers to make one ball that was suitable for both categories,” MCC mentioned.

Your daily dose of cricket!

2. Rules for laminated bats:

As the cost of the bats is on the rising stats, the MCC decided to make the laminated bats legal for adult group cricket as well. The laminated bat would cost less than the wooden, non-laminated bats.

“Type D bats, which may be laminated, are now permitted for open-age cricket, rather than just junior cricket. This is part of an attempt to slow the rising costs of bats around the world,” MCC described.

3. Law 12.5.2 – The final over of a day’s play will not end if there is a wicket:

This rule can impact the multi-day matches in a massive way. To maintain the flow of a match, the MCC stated in their official statement that if a bowler takes a wicket in the last over of the day, the bowling team will be allowed to complete the over. For them, the batting side will have to send the new batter to the field to play the remaining balls of the over.

“While letting the incoming batter off the hook—at a time when the conditions are often more favorable to bowling. The new change means that the final over of the day will be bowled fully,” MCC said.

4. Law 18.5.1 and 18.5.2—A clarification of short running:

A part of cricket fans may already be aware of the rule, as this has already been adopted by ICC. The rule is to prevent the batters from stealing runs by running short in the crease. The fielding side can appeal to the umpire if they feel a batter is running short on the pitch deliberately.

“Deliberate short running is usually an attempt to manufacture a certain batter being on strike, and this further reduces the chances of gaining such an advantage,” the official release said.

5. Law 19.5.2 – Boundary catching:

It is another law that is already adopted by the ICC. This rule is to restrict the fielders from the ‘bonny hop’ attempts. This rule will abolish some spectacular catches from outside of the rope. Under this rule, a fielder will not be allowed to touch the ball outside the boundary line, who goes airborne only once and then, having done so, to be wholly grounded within the boundary for the rest of the duration of that delivery.

“Even if the ball is parried—to another fielder or inside the field of play—if the fielder lands outside the boundary or subsequently steps outside, then a boundary will be scored,” MCC further added.

6. Law 19.8 – Overthrows:

This rule is to draw a clear line between the conception of overthrow and misfield. MCC clearly mentioned that if a fielder throws the ball to the stumps in an attempt to make a batter run out or score. And an act on the field will misfield if “a fielder makes an attempt to stop the ball or pass it to another fielder close to the boundary—it should not be treated as an overthrow.”

7. Law 20.1.1.1 – a new definition of ‘finally settled’:

This is an extremely important rule for all of the cricketers. This law is to redefine when a ball can be called finally settled. It was often noticed that batters fail to judge if the momentum after delivering a ball is still in motion or not.

Explaining the new rule, the MCC said, “The ball no longer has to be in the bowler’s or wicket-keeper’s hands to be finally settled. It can be in the hands of any fielder or stationary on the ground. This allows umpires the freedom to make reasonable decisions on when the ball is dead, even if one fielder, or one batter, is still attempting to play on.”

8. Law 27.3.1 – the position of the wicket-keeper:

It is an interesting change in rules. This rule has explained what will be the position of a wicket-keeper during the release of a delivery. The rule has changed, as some keepers sometimes preferred to keep their gloves in front of the stumps. MCC, in their updated rules, stated that it is only after the ball is released that the wicketkeeper must be wholly behind the stumps. This brings the wording in line with a fielder’s position.

9. Law 35.1.1 and 35.2 – Hit wicket:

The refreshed rule said that if a batter fell on the stumps while attempting to play the ball, it would be considered a hit wicket. But if a different player is contacted by the batter and then falls on the stumps, then it will not be considered a hit wicket. To take the ultimate call, umpires will have to see whether the situation is by accident or deliberate.

10. Appendix A2.7 and A2.8 – Held in the fielder’s hand and complete control over the ball:

This rule can save a batter big time. MCC has made it clear that during a run-out or stumping, a fielder needs to hold the ball with full control.

“For a ball to be considered held in the fielder’s hand—vital for a run-out or stumping—The ball has to be held. It cannot be simply touching the fielder’s hand while they break the stumps; they must actually be holding it with complete control”, according to the law.

Click here to see more in details

To download a document detailing the ten key changes, please click here.

The full document, which includes all 73 changes to the Laws, can be accessed here, and a document explaining each change is available here.

The full 2026 edition of the 2017 Code of Laws can be accessed here.