‘Red cards’ for unruly cricketers

MUMBAI - Cricketers will be at risk of being sent off for the first time after the game’s lawmakers proposed giving umpires powers to punish unruly players. Currently, only captains can ask their own players to leave the field, with umpires powerless to punish bad behavior unlike in most other sports. The Marylebone Cricket Club - the guardian of the laws of the game - says players could be ejected from games from Oct. 1 2017 if its main committee approves Wednesday’s recommendation from the world cricket committee. The MCC wants players to be removed from the field for acts of violence or threatening an umpire. Separately, the MCC wants restrictions on the size of bats, arguing that the “balance of the game has tilted too far in the batsman’s favor.” The width of the edge of the bat could be restricted to a maximum of 40mm, and the depth to a maximum of 67mm from Oct. 1, 2017, if the committee’s recommendations are approved. “Whilst not wishing to turn the clocks back too far, the committee, together with the Club’s Cricket committee - which met last week at Lord’s - wants to draw a line in the sand and target mis-hits that are clearing the boundary ropes for six,” the committee said. “Many of the top players’ bats have edges of between 38mm and 42mm, but there are some which have edges of up to 50mm, which was felt to be excessive and in need of restriction.” Dismissals from fielder’s helmet Under the existing law, catches and stumpings are not permitted if the ball touches any part of the helmet worn by a fielder or wicketkeeper. In recent times, Moeen Ali and Tom Latham were reprieved as close-in fielders caught the ball but couldn’t prevent it from making contact with their helmets. Such decisions will go in the bowler’s favor if the main MCC committee passes this recommendation. The committee also said it wouldn’t recommend a change to the existing ball-tampering law, which was brought under scrutiny after South Africa captain Faf du Plessis was found guilty of tampering - he was caught on camera allegedly shining the ball with saliva while having a lozenge in his mouth. Du Plessis has since appealed the verdict.