ICC is trying to make sure teams wrap up games in the stipulated time. We saw how India and Pakistan's tense matches in the Asia Cup 2022 took over four hours to complete with a lot of team huddles in the middle and intense moments causing frequent stoppages. An extra fielder was brought into the circle as the teams failed to finish the overs in the allotted time and it encouraged Hardik Pandya to extend his long levers at the crucial juncture of the group stage match.
In a bid to tackle slow over rate, the in-match penalty was introduced in T20Is in January 2022. Failure to bowl overs by the scheduled time will force fielding sides to bring an additional fielder inside the fielding circle for the remaining overs of an ODI innings. This rule had become part of T20I since January 2022 and will be implemented in ODI matches after the completion of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League in 2023.
The death overs of any T20 innings are make or break and are regarded as one of the most important passages of play. Having four leaders instead of five clearly gives batter more areas to target. The monetary penalty will not hurt much - given how much money top-flight cricketers make these days - as compared to the impact fielding restriction would have on the result, especially in a high-voltage affair.
Another major change in the playing conditions is that after a catching dismissal, a new batter will be at the striker's end even if the batters crossed as the catch was taken.
This aforementioned rule will be promulgated from October 1. This will surely have an impact on the game as crossing often gives an opportunity to a set batter to face and that increases the odds of scoring runs. This new move could tilt the game's balance towards the fielding team and become a crucial factor in a crunch match situation.
"Bowlers will no longer get bashed for Mankad dismissal in the same way and the mode of dismissal won't be deemed as unfair play"
Furthermore, the use of saliva to polish the ball will remain in place despite the mitigation of the Covid-19 threat and the end of virus restrictions. Now the bowlers can only use their sweat to shine the ball in a bid to generate lateral movement. It will take some time for the bowlers to get used to this new ruling and the umpires are expected to show a bit of leniency at the beginning if a bowler inadvertently tries to change the condition of the ball by using his saliva.
ALSO READ: ICC announces changes to Playing Conditions
No longer bowlers will be bashed for Mankad dismissal in the same way and this mode of dismissal won't be deemed as unfair play. Mankad has been a controversial dismissal and a subject of debate among fans as well as members of the cricket fraternity, however, now it has been moved from the ‘Unfair Play’ section to the ‘Run Out’ by the Marylebone Cricket Club.
The batters had a moral edge in the game and often bowlers used to be in a state of dilemma to execute Mankad dismissal. However, there are some grey areas associated with this dismissal: a bowler may not have the intention to bowl and could stop intentionally during the delivery stride thus deliberately waiting for the batter to leave the crease to dislodge the bails.
Thus, the batter has to be extra vigilant and keep his bat in the crease until the ball leaves the hand of the bowler. It will require some time before batters can get used to being more alert and adjust to the changes if Mankad becomes common. The dismissal continues to spark anger among batters and is largely considered unsporting.
As I write this piece, there is a relentless debate going on after the latest episode of Mankad dismissal during the third ODI between England and India in which Deepti Sharma dismissed Charlie Dean using this rare mode of dismissal. India managed to win that ODI by 16-run but social media is abuzz with polarizing opinions and England cricketers, in particular, have been vehemently criticizing Sharma. Perhaps ICC and MCC stakeholders should look into the nitty gritties of Mankad and take players' concerns into consideration.
One of the leading leg-spinners of the world, who hails from South Africa, remarked that "If bowlers have to keep their foot behind the line, batsmen should do the same as well."
"If bowlers have to keep their foot behind the line, batsmen should do the same as well." ?♂️
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) September 27, 2022
South Africa's spin bowler Tabraiz Shamsi said for him there is 'no controversy' when asked about the Mankad dismissal. pic.twitter.com/OicGoZsqFu
Stuart Broad won't feel right to finish a game with this method of dismissal.
I find the debate of the Mankad really interesting. So many views from either side. I personally wouldn’t like to win a match like that, also, very happy for others to feel differently https://t.co/BItCNJZqYB
— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) September 24, 2022