There is much more than Penalty Runs in the new MCC 2000 Laws. This piece concentrates only on those that will affect the players in the average one-day game. All lovers of the game know that it is best enjoyed when played well within the spirit and upholding the traditions of the game.

Great emphasis is placed on playing within the Spirit of The Game, and particular responsibility is placed on the Captains to ensure that players do observe this Spirit by conducting themselves properly and to RESPECT their opponents, the umpires and the game's traditional values.

Penalty Runs are complex and best avoided. Umpires have complex procedures to follow, mostly involving one warning; and the umpire will award these for numerous reasons including time wasting, damaging the pitch, interfering with the ball, distracting the batsmen and illegal fielding and even a player returning to the field without permission will be penalised. If you play within The Spirit of the Game, you may never encounter them. Penalties runs are not deducted but they are always awarded to the opponents even if they had not batted before that incident.

The striker may now be out caught off ANY part of his glove holding bat even above the wrist. Previously it was off hand only.

A bowler can be taken off even if it is a fielder who wastes time!

Wicket keepers may no longer wear pouched gloves. Only one flat-when-stretched piece between thumb and forefinger is allowed. [There is an ECB dispensation for 2001 season in England for recreational cricket]. The wicket keeper (and other fielders) are now specifically prohibited from significant movement whilst the ball is being delivered. The wicket keeper can only stand in recognisable positions - [e.g. not on deep outfield or slips].

Earlier arrival at the ground is recommended for players as well as umpires. Teams must be nominated in writing to an umpire before the toss.

There is a whole new Law (17) governing the place and timing of practice - bowling or batting practice on pitch or strips either side of pitch (NEVER on match days), on the square (NOT from 30 MINUTES before start of play and end of days play) and on the outfield [only if there is no waste of time].

Please tell he umpire when you leave the field during play and ask his permission to return or you may find yourself five runs worse off with no warning. The umpires now have sole (and wider) discretion over the use of a substitute. The ball must be returned to the umpire at the fall of a wicket and the new batsman must be ready within three minutes of fall of a wicket for play to resume.

Trial run ups will be allowed at any time that does not waste time. However a trial delivery to Extra Cover [pitching on any part of the square] may be stopped under Law 17(1b) and a trial delivery to Long off (pitching on outfield] under Law 17(1c), and you could be banned from bowling for five overs!

Any delivery that bounces more than twice or rolls along the ground will be called No Ball. If it stops before it reaches the popping crease, it will also be called Dead (no more free golf strokes). Under arm bowling is prohibited unless agreed before the match.

Wide Balls are not as wide as they used to be! You must bowl close enough to the striker to allow him to play a normal cricket stroke - and overhead deliveries will be called No Ball (and will attract a warning for dangerous bowling).

Most importantly Wides and No Balls now attract a one run penalty IN ADDITION to any other runs or penalties scored.

Some bowlers will be pleased with a change to the LBW Law that requires an umpire to give a striker out off a full toss provided that the ball's path just before the interception was in line to hit the wicket. Umpires now have the final say about coming off the field in dangerous conditions - previously both captains acting together could overrule umpires.

Appeals for bad weather have changed and there is now much more flexibility about rearranging lunch, tea and drinks intervals if circumstances change.

Boundary Laws have changed - lean on the fence, catch the ball and the umpire will signal Six. Boundary line is now the inside edge of marking, flag or rope. On the other hand if you touch then run over the boundary and come back to catch the ball, then that may be out.

Completing a catch now means gaining control over the ball AND your movement within field of play.

Groundsmen MUST now put a line, rope or board in front of the sightscreen and it then a hit normally becomes a boundary six. Size of bails to use is defined very precisely making almost all the old ones unusable. The danger area is now called protected area and it starts 5 foot in front of the popping crease; it was 4 foot in front previously.

The bowler can no longer use sawdust to dry the ball. The striker is no longer partly protected from Run Out off a No Ball. If the striker taps or picks and throws the ball to a fielder without consent, he will no longer be given out hit-the-ball-twice or handled the ball BUT he could be given out Obstructing the field.

Running out an advancing non-striker is possible only before the bowler enters his delivery stride. Batsmen unfairly stealing a run during a bowler's run-up risks a five run penalty and losing all runs scored.

Scorers must be made aware that the one run penalty for No Balls and Wides are now scored in addition to whatever other runs are made and that umpires will make separate signals and expect separate acknowledgements. Scorers are also required to make more frequent cross checks with each other and with the umpires.

If this has raised your interest why not buy the small blue pocket booklet 'The Laws of Cricket, 2000 Code' costing £ 2.50 from Lords bookshop? New score books with provision for recording new penalty runs too should be available in sports shops.

This article is based on a publication by Colin Pearson of Acumen Books and ACUS

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