Bowlers running out batters at the non-striker’s end for backing up too far used to be a rare occurrence once. However, such dismissals have become quite common in recent times.
While the ICC amended its rule book in October 2022 and declared that run-outs at the bowler's end won’t be considered “unfair play” anymore, this mode of dismissal still triggers the spirit of cricket argument.
Amid the debate, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Thursday (January 19) provided clarification on the implementation of law 38.3 relating to run out at the non-striker’s end before a bowler bowls a delivery.
In a statement, the custodian of cricket laws said, “We acknowledge that while this Law has generally been understood well by players and umpires, there is ambiguity in the wording which could lead to confusion.”
“The current wording led some to think that if the non-striker left his/her ground before the expected moment of release, then the Run out could happen at any moment, even after the bowler had gone through the bowling action. That was never the intention of this Law, nor the way it was ever interpreted by MCC.”
After the update, law 38.3.1 reads as, “At any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be Run out if he/she is out of his/her ground. In these circumstances the non-striker will be out Run out if he/she is out of his/her ground when his/her wicket is put down by the bowler throwing the ball at the stumps or by the bowler’s hand holding the ball, whether or not the ball is subsequently delivered.”
Giving a clarification on the instance of a bowler releasing the delivery, law 38.3.1.1 states, “The instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball is defined as the moment the bowler’s arm reaches the highest point of his/her normal bowling action in the delivery swing.”
Law 38.3.1.2 adds, “Even if the non-striker had left his/her ground before the instant at which the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, once the bowler has reached that point it is no longer possible for the bowler to run out the non-striker under this Law.”
The revised law is in effect from January 19, 2023.
MCC further stated, “It is important to note that this does not change the way the Law should be interpreted – it has been interpreted that way for the past six years, without much misunderstanding.”
The Marylebone Cricket Club released a statement in the wake of Adam Zampa’s failed attempt to run out Tom Rogers at the non-striker’s end during a Big Bash game earlier this month. In that case, the third umpire ruled that Zampa's arm had gone past the 'vertical' or the highest point, from where the ball is deemed to have been released.
