The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) - the guardians of the laws of cricket, has announced on Wednesday (November 14) that it has amended Law 41.7, relating to the bowling of dangerous and unfair non-pitching deliveries (beamers). 

The Law, which was published in October 2017, imposed stricter penalties on bowlers delivering full tosses over batsmen's waists. But, ever since, the Law came into the effect, there were a lot of feedbacks against it.

Following the suggestions, the MCC has admitted that the stricter penalties were unfair to those who delivered beamers accidentally especially the inexperienced junior players.

According to the new Law, which will come into the effect from 1st April 2019, "the umpire will now decide whether a full-pitched delivery is dangerous, based on various factors such as the speed or direction of the ball, repeated delivery of full tosses and the ability of the batsman. There is no longer a ‘catch-all’ sanction, but umpires are instead required to use their best judgement to determine whether a delivery is dangerous. If it is dangerous, it will lead to a first and final warning. If not, it will still be a No ball, but there will be no warning."

The MCC said in a statement, "Since its introduction, feedback has been received which suggests strongly that the new sanctions were overly severe (especially to younger bowlers). In many cases, Governing Bodies introduced their own playing conditions that rendered the new Law irrelevant."

It signed off by saying, "In response to this feedback, the Laws sub-committee has reviewed Law 41.7 and - with the support of the Cricket committee, World Cricket committee and MCC Committee - agreed that it should be adjusted, with effect from 1st April 2019, to allow umpires to make a more subjective decision over which deliveries are dangerous."

(With AFP Inputs)