The 2000 rewrite of the Laws of Cricket means that the role of the Captain carries considerably more weight than it has done before. Players can no longer think of the job of captain in terms of the toss of a coin and the shuffling of a few field positions. In fact, the captain has always been responsible for ensuring that the game is played in the right spirit (at least since the 1980 Code of Laws) but that responsibility is now enhanced to the extent that a captain could spend more of his season suspended than playing if he doesn't command the respect and co-operation of his players.

Eroding of traditional standards over the years, and the increasing acceptance (or at least tolerance) of sledging, excessive appealing, etc., has led to the Laws being prefaced by a completely new section, 'The Preamble - The Spirit of Cricket'.

Basically, what is enshrined in this Preamble is the fact that the Captain will be held responsible for the actions of his team. If they let him down in any of the ways classified as Unfair Play, the umpires will expect him to take immediate action to deal with the situation and, if it comes to a report (and an increasing number of offences are now automatically the subject of a report) then it is the captain who will be cited together with, if appropriate, the player or players concerned. This may be for relatively easily identifiable situations such as ball tampering or time wasting, but the very last paragraph of Law 42 covers a multitude of sins, stating that a report will follow…

'If there is any breach of the Spirit of the Game by a player failing to comply with the instructions of an umpire, or criticising his decisions by word or action, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute.'

'Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this.'

So, what has changed? Let's take a look through the Laws, picking out the bits that will, or could, affect your average league match. For easy reference, I'll take them in the order they appear in the Laws, rather than attempt an order of importance. I apologise if the following interpretation ends up being rather wordy - I still can't decide if sentences are easier to digest than unexplained bullet points.

Law 1. The Players

The captain needs to give a written team list to one of the umpires before the toss.

Law 2. Substitutes

The restriction on players leaving and returning to the field of play now applies equally at the beginning of the match. So a bowler arriving 15 minutes or more after play has started will have to wait before being allowed to bowl. He will have to be on the field for at least as long as he was absent. Time off the field for rain, etc, will be counted towards 'payback time' if a fielder takes the field with the rest of the team after such a break.

They've also cleared up the question of what happens if a fielder has been off the field of play and then returns without the umpire's permission. If he does this, and comes into contact with the ball, he will incur a 5 run penalty for illegal fielding. This is also the first instance of a reportable offence - the umpires will report the captain and the relevant player to the club and the league for them to take whatever action they feel is appropriate.

Umpires may now use their discretion as to when they will allow a substitute or runner. As well as the automatic right to a substitute in cases of illness or injury during the match, they can also allow substitutes for other 'wholly acceptable reasons' without needing the consent of the other captain.

It is now stated, not just implied, that a substitute may not act as captain.

Law 3. The Umpires

5 new signals have been added to the repertoire.
2 (last hour, new ball) won't matter to us in limited over cricket.
2 (penalty runs to batting side, penalty runs to fielding side) we hope we won't need.
1 (scorers, please cancel the last signal I just gave you) needs no further comment!

Should an umpire need to be changed during a match (because of illness / injury, not customer dissatisfaction!) then the replacement will officiate at striker's end only unless both captains agree he is competent to stand at both ends.

Umpires now have a lot more guidance on dealing with British weather conditions. Basically, if the conditions are 'unsuitable', the captains can decide to overrule the umpires' judgement and play on, but if the umpires decide the conditions are 'unreasonable and dangerous' there will be no play until conditions improve. Appeals against ground, weather and light conditions can now be upheld if conditions are as bad as they were, not just if they have deteriorated.

Law 5 The Ball

The ball is to be given to the umpires at any break in play - fall of a wicket, drinks interval, unscheduled break for rain, etc.

Law 6 The Bat

A cricket bat now has to have a blade made solely of wood. Repair material is still allowed, so long as it is not likely to cause unacceptable damage to the ball.

The whole of a batting glove now counts as the batsman's hand - umpires are no longer expected to decide where his wrist is when it comes to a question of a catch.

Law 11

Covers, if used, may extend to 5 feet in front of the popping crease, in line with the changes to the 'protected area' (previously the danger area)

Law 12

The toss still has to take place on the field of play, still no later than 15 minutes before the scheduled start of play, but a further restriction has been added - captains may toss no earlier than 30 minutes before the start of play.

Law 17 Practice on the field of play

No practice is allowed on the pitch itself, or on 'the area parallel and immediately adjacent to the pitch' at any time on any day of the match.

Batting / bowling practice on the rest of the square can only take place more than 30 minutes before the start of play and only if the umpires consider, bearing in mind the weather conditions, that it will cause no damage to the playing area.

If a bowler ignores the above restrictions, he will not be allowed to bowl for at least 5 overs after the offence, i.e. 5 overs + x balls if he offends partway through an over.

Practice anywhere else on the field of play is only allowed if the umpire considers it will not waste time. Players who offend in this respect are liable to sanctions under the time wasting section of Law 42, i.e. penalty runs plus reporting of captain and relevant player.

Law 18

While you may be used to the idea of an umpire calling a batsman for running short, you may be totally unaware that umpires have much stronger sanctions at their disposal if they decide that batsmen are deliberately running short. These sanctions have been extended still further, and if warnings about deliberate short running are ignored, penalty runs may be awarded and the captain and relevant player reported.

Law 19 Boundaries

Any complications that used to arise from the siting of sightscreens should now be at an end. Sightscreens (if you have such luxuries) should be positioned outside the boundary. Before you protest that there is no way the screens at your ground can be moved, can I suggest you adopt the increasingly popular approach and simply move the boundary. Nowhere does it say that a boundary has to be a perfect circle - a circle with a bite out of it is fine, whether you simply rope off the relevant area or follow a slightly different line with your whitener.

The grey area between a boundary 4 and a boundary 6 has now gone, with the inside edge of whatever marking is used becoming the boundary. So a ball landing on the line or rope will now be worth 6 runs, as will the ball hitting the fence or wall on the full. The counter-implication of this is that a fielder may no longer lean against the fence to take a catch - doing so will be to give away 6 runs.

Law 21 The Result

The 1-run penalty for a no ball or wide now counts in addition to any runs scored, so either of these calls would be enough to win a match when the batting side needed 1 to win. You no longer need to wait and see what else happens with that delivery.

Up to now, a boundary that constitutes the winning hit has counted in full. Now it will only count if the batsmen haven't run the required number of runs while it was travelling to the boundary. So if you're worried about your 50 or your averages, you may need to hit it harder or run more slowly!

If umpires believe the actions of one team constitute a refusal to play, they will confirm with the captain that this is indeed his intention, and if so, will award the match to the other team without any need for an appeal.

Law 23 Dead Ball

The criteria for the ball becoming dead remain largely the same as they were, except that the ball becoming 'trapped between the bat and person of a batsman or between items of his clothing or equipment' has been added to the previous situation of the ball becoming lodged in clothing or equipment.

The ball will be deemed to be dead if the umpire is satisfied both sides 'have ceased to regard it as in play' e.g. the ball being thrown round the circle on its way back to the bowler while the batsman does a spot of gardening, even though the ball may never have gone through to the wicketkeeper.

The umpire may also call dead ball if he considers the striker has been distracted, deliberately or otherwise, and will allow another delivery, even though the batsman may, strictly speaking, have had the opportunity to play the ball.

Law 24. No Ball

The definition of throwing has changed to the following:

'A ball is fairly delivered in respect of the arm if, once the bowler's arm has reached the level of the shoulder in the delivery swing, the elbow joint is not straightened partially or completely from that point until the ball has left the hand. This definition shall not debar a bowler from flexing or rotating the wrist in the delivery swing.'

Clear?! Essentially it is saying that if the arm is straight at that point, fine. If not, then it must remain bent.

If a bowler is called for throwing, he will also be warned, leading, if the illegal bowling continues, to being taken off and reported.

One no ball extra is automatically scored in addition to any other runs that may come from the delivery.

If the ball bounces more than twice before reaching the popping crease, or rolls along the ground, it is a no ball.

Underarm bowling is not allowed.

The ball which never actually reaches the striker, which previously the striker was entitled to have a go at if he so wished, is also a no ball, but the call of no ball will be followed immediately by a call of dead ball, so we no longer have the pantomime of replacing the ball, the fielders, etc while the striker selected the most appropriate golf club!

Law 25 Wide Ball

As with the No Ball, the 1 run penalty for a wide is in addition to runs scored otherwise.

The ball that used to qualify as a wide by being unreachable on grounds of height has now been reclassified within the 'dangerous and unfair bowling' section of Law 42.

A wide is no longer as wide as it used to be, the batsman now having to be able to reach it 'by means of a normal cricket stroke'. This brings it closer to the concept of the 1-day wide.

Law 28 Hit Wicket

The situation on how a batsman can be out hit wicket has been clarified somewhat. A cap, etc. falling off and breaking the wicket will count, as will the breaking of the wicket by the bat, even if the batsman has let go of it.

Law 31 Timed Out

A batsman no longer has 2 minutes from the fall of the wicket until he steps onto the field of play. He now has 3 minutes to be ready to take strike (or for his partner to do so if he's at the other end.)

Law 32 Caught

A reminder of 2 points that have already come up under other laws: -
- the whole of the batsman's glove counts as his hand,
- because of the changes to the boundary, a fielder can no longer lean on the fence to take a catch.

How do we decide whether a catch has been taken or not? The definition of a fair catch now includes the statement that the fielder must have complete control over the ball and over his own movement. So if his momentum carries him over the boundary as he attempts a catch in the deep, he obviously doesn't have complete control over his movements.

Law 36 LBW

The wording of this law has been changed to bring it more in line with accepted practice in the first-class game. Up to now, an umpire has had to be certain the ball would have hit the wicket, which is why we've had to turn down so many appeals because there were so many different possibilities of what might have happened between the point of impact and the ball reaching the stumps. Now 'it is to be assumed that the path of the ball before interception would have continued after interception'. I would suggest that this means that batsmen need to keep their legs out of the way if at all possible!

They've even thought of how to deal with the batsman who employs the reverse sweep. A batsman's off stump is deemed to be the one that is his off stump when the bowler starts his run-up, even if the batsman subsequently turns himself round.

Law 38 Run Out

No major changes here, but a few clarifications.

Once the bowler has entered his delivery stride, he can't attempt to run out the non-striker who is backing up too far without the intervention of another fielder.

The striker is now vulnerable to be out Run Out from a no ball even if he is not attempting a run.

The batsman cannot be out Run Out if the ball rebounds directly onto the stumps off a helmet worn by a fielder. Similarly, under Law 39, he cannot be stumped from a direct rebound off the wicket keeper's helmet. However, the ball is not dead in these situations, so a run out could still be possible if the ball goes from helmet to hand to stumps.

Law 40 Wicket-keeper

The wicket keeper is the only member of the fielding side allowed to wear pads and gloves, and the gloves must conform to the style laid down in the Appendix to the Laws i.e. no webbing between the fingers, other than a single piece of non-stretch, non-pouching material between thumb and index finger.

Once the wicket-keeper drops back so far that he is unable to carry out the normal duties of a keeper (the end of the match, everyone on the boundary scenario) he forfeits the right to wear the protective equipment, and will also be counted as a fielder when considering, for example, how many are backward of square on the leg side.

'It is unfair if a wicket-keeper standing back makes a significant movement towards the wicket after the ball comes into play and before it reaches the striker.' Coming forward a few paces for a quick bowler's slower delivery is not deemed to be unfair.

Law 41 The Fielder

Not only are fielders not allowed to wear pads and gloves unless they are acting as wicket-keeper, but they also need the umpire's consent if they want to wear any sort of protection for their hand or fingers.

Illegal fielding carries a 5 run penalty, but is also followed by the procedure of reporting captain and player to the club and league.

Helmets, when on the field but not being worn, should be placed behind the wicket-keeper and in line with both sets of stumps, i.e. somewhat vulnerable if the keeper is standing ready to take an extravagant out-swinger!

Law 42 Fair and Unfair Play

This is the big one! Ideally it needs to be read in its entirety, but I'll try and summarise the main bits. The trouble is that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, so there is always a risk we could miss out on something vital.

The last paragraph, 18, outlines the reporting procedure that we've already seen and which we will meet a few more times yet in conjunction with the next few incidents.

So, what does the law says constitutes unfair play? Just as I've been referring to numbered laws so far, I'll number the paragraphs of this law to make it easier to check out the full story.

3. A player MAY

- polish the ball, but without wasting time and without using artificial substances
- remove mud from the ball under the supervision of the umpire
- dry a wet ball on a towel (not sawdust now)

but a player MAY NOT

- rub the ball on the ground
- interfere with the seams or surface
- take any action likely to alter the condition of the ball (other than the allowable activities listed)

If a player is found guilty, the ball will be changed, 5 penalty runs awarded and the captain and player reported.

If there is any further instance, all the above sanctions will be repeated plus the bowler will be taken off and not allowed to bowl again in the innings.

4. In the case of a deliberate attempt to distract the striker while he is receiving a delivery, the umpire will call Dead Ball, issue the captain with a first and final warning and not allow any dismissal from that ball. If it happens again, then it's 5 penalty runs and reporting of captain and player.

5. It is also classed as unfair to distract or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball. Either umpire can decide the action was wilful - and if it is, then it's 5 penalty runs and reporting of captain and player.

6. Bouncers and beamers now come together under one heading - dangerous and unfair bowling.

'The bowling of fast short-pitched balls is dangerous and unfair if the umpire at the bowler's end considers that by their repetition and taking into account their length, height and direction they are likely to inflict physical injury on the striker.'

'Any delivery which, after pitching, passes or would have passed over head height of the striker standing upright at the crease, although not threatening physical injury, is unfair' and will be considered as part of the repetition sequence of unfair deliveries. The Umpire shall call and signal No Ball for each such delivery.

High full pitches split into 2 kinds:
- other than slow, in which case above waist height is unfair,
- slow, when above shoulder height is unfair

7. All types of unfair bowling including slow bowling now count together as one category rather than a bowler being entitled to 2 warnings for each. At the first instance of any such delivery, the umpire shall call and signal No Ball and then go into the caution, final warning and removal of bowler procedures.

8. A bowler considered to be delivering a deliberate beamer shall be removed from the attack immediately and not allowed to bowl again in the innings.

9. In the case of time wasting by the fielding side, the umpire will issue the captain with a first and final warning. If it happens again,
a) not during an over, 5 penalty runs will be awarded
b) during an over, the bowler will be taken off.
And again the captain, and if appropriate the team, will be reported.

10. There are also sanctions in place if batsmen waste time. The basic expectation is that 'in normal circumstances the striker should always be ready to take strike when the bowler is ready to start his run-up.'
If the umpire is satisfied that either batsman is wasting time, he will issue them with a first and final warning. This warning will be repeated to each subsequent incoming batsman and if there is a further offence, then we go on to the award of 5 penalty runs (to the fielding side obviously!) and reporting of captain and players.

'It is unfair for any player to cause deliberate damage to the pitch.' There is then more detail depending on which player causes the damage.

12 Bowler running on pitch after delivery
The bowler must avoid the protected area (the 2 foot strip down the centre of the pitch starting 5 feet in front of each popping crease). If he doesn't, then the umpires follow the procedures of caution, final warning and taking the bowler off, plus reporting the captain and bowler concerned.

13. If any fielder causes avoidable damage to the pitch, the umpire will issue the captain with a first and final warning. If there is any further avoidable damage caused to the pitch by any member of the fielding side, 5 penalty runs will be awarded and the captain and relevant players will be reported.

14. The situation with batsmen damaging the pitch is rather like the time-wasting situation.
If a batsman causes avoidable damage to the pitch, the umpire will caution him and repeat the warning to each incoming batsman.
If there is a second instance by any batsman in that innings, the umpire will issue a final warning and disallow any runs from that delivery.
A third instance would incur a 5 run penalty and the reporting of captain and relevant players.

18. I have already referred to the paragraph on players' conduct in the introduction
to this booklet, but captains should be aware that there will be no warnings issued under this section of the Law. If a player is considered by the umpires to be guilty of an offence, then a report will be submitted to the governing body for the match.

So there you have it in a rather large nutshell! If you've managed to read through as far as this, you are probably thoroughly depressed. I don't think you need to be.

All this cautioning, reporting, etc is basically a worst-case scenario. If players turn up on a Saturday afternoon with the intention of supporting their captain and enjoying a good afternoon's cricket, then there should be no problem - and, let's face it, a good afternoon's cricket is what interests all of us, whether players, umpires, scorers or spectators. If we approach the new season in that frame of mind, then all these sanctions should remain no more than a threat in the background.

Have a great season!