India vs Australia series to be played under existing ICC rules

Even though the rules laid by the International Cricket Council (ICC) will come into effect on September 27, the upcoming India vs Australia series, scheduled from September 17 to October 13, will be played as per existing by-laws of the game. However, Virat Kohli & Co. will play as per new rules when New Zealand tour India in mid-October. The rules will also be in place when Bangladesh take on South Africa and Pakistan lock horns with Sri Lanka.

Previously, the date of implementation for the new set of rules pertaining to the Code of Conduct, DRS usage, and size of the equipment was supposed to be October 1 onwards, but with the two Test series’ set to begin on September 28, it has been decided that it will come to effect from that very date.

In order to avoid confusion, the India vs Australia series consisting of five ODIs and three T20I, that is scheduled to continue through the second week of October, will be played as per the old rules. “Yes, the rules will come into effect when the double header Tests [Sri Lanka vs Pakistan and Bangladesh vs South Africa starts] start on September 28. The Australia vs India and England vs West Indies limited overs series both start on September 17,” a BCCI official was quoted by PTI as saying.

Prominent changes in rules

“While both the series will continue into October but you don’t want any confusion with regards to a different set of rules followed in the same series. Hence, this decision by the ICC,” the official added. One of the most prominent rule changes that will come into effect is that teams will no longer lose a review under DRS if a leg-before referral returns as ‘Umpires’ Call’

With the change in the DRS rule on umpires’ call, the current rule allowing the top-up of reviews after 80 overs in Tests is set to be removed. The ICC has also empowered umpires to send off players for misconduct, including violence. All other offences would continue to be dealt under the ICC Code of Conduct.

There would be restrictions on bat dimensions (thickness of edges and depth of bat).Other than that, batsmen will not be deemed out if the bat is in the air after crossing the crease. The batsman is currently ruled out if the bat is not grounded when the stumps are disturbed.