5 Cricket Rules That Should Be Scrapped

Cricket is a sport that is known for its controversial rules. While fans enjoy the thrill that comes with such rules, there have been mixed reactions from cricket analysts and players. Such crazy cricket rules often add to the frustration of the fans and even the stakeholders at times. Cricket is so complex and has so many rules. But, despite all these complications of remembering all the rules, cricket has been loved and watched all over the world. Some of the rules in the history of cricket have gone to become controversial. Such rules have come under scrutiny for their absurdness. In this blog, we list the top 5 cricket rules that should be scrapped so that you can enjoy the beautiful game.

Top Five Cricket Rules That Should Be Scrapped

1. Impact Player Rule

Back in IPL 2023, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) introduced the Impact Player rule. Teams were well prepared to make the Indian Premier League a 12-player contest despite their early doubts. Teams would shortlist five substitutes to pick from when needed. By the IPL 2024 season, teams had a fair idea of how to use it, and the franchise started using it as a secret weapon to strengthen their squad, which started affecting the role of a pure all-rounder on the side. Teams have used the Impact Player rule to score extra runs this season. Entertainment-wise, cricket fans are getting their money's worth. However, many cricketers, including Rohit Sharma and Axar Patel, have started raising concerns about this rule. Gujarat Titans' hard-hitting finisher David Miller is the newest member to join this bandwagon.

2. Umpire's call in Decision Review System

The Umpire's Call in Decision Review System (DRS) has recently been the most controversial cricket rule of on-field umpiring. The 'Umpire’s Call' ensures that marginal decisions in LBW dismissals, when taken upon by a Decision Review System (DRS) appeal, remain in favour of the original decision made by the on-field umpire. According to the ICC playing conditions, the 'Umpire’s Call’ states: “It is the concept within the DRS under which the on-field decision of the bowler’s end umpire shall stand, which shall apply under the specific circumstances... where the ball-tracking technology indicates a marginal decision in respect of either the Impact Zone or the Wicket Zone.” The 'Umpire's Call' was in the cricket news recently when English skipper Ben Stokes called for scrapping this particular DRS feature from cricket.

3. Overthrow after deflection off the bat

Who can forget Ben Stokes' diving incident in the ICC 2019 ODI World Cup Final against New Zealand? It is fair to say that the Overthrow rule cost New Zealand a World Cup trophy. During the final over in England's chase of 241 at Lord's, Stokes accidentally knocked the ball coming in from deep midwicket fielder Martin Guptil and deflected it off to the third-man boundary while attempting to dive to complete his second run. Ben Stokes never changed the line of his running, nor did he look at the ball being thrown. He was just concerned about getting back on strike. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena had signalled six runs to England (two for running and four for overthrows), which reduced the equation to three runs from two balls. This incident was a case of accidental obstructing and is one of the top unpopular cricket rules. If not for this overthrow rule, New Zealand would have won the match, and that super over wouldn’t have happened.

4. Dead-ball rule in the Decision Review System

The Dead-ball rule in the Decision Review System states that if a batter is hit on the pad and then goes for a single and completes the run while the umpire is declaring it out, it is LBW, as always. But what if the batter was not out but later decided to review the decision? If he appeals the decision and the third umpire rules in his favour, the one run he just ran will not be added. So basically, every time the third umpire overruled a decision, the batter loses an opportunity of sneaking a quick run.

ICC playing conditions (DRS): Clause 3.7 of Appendix D states, "If following a batter review request, an original decision of Out is changed to Not-out, then the ball is still deemed to have become dead when the original decision was made. The batting side, while benefiting from the reversal of the dismissal, shall not benefit from any runs that may subsequently have accrued from the delivery had the on-field umpire originally,"

5. Batter is Not Out If Bails Don’t Fall

One rule that really frustrates the fans and the bowlers is that a batter can’t be given out bowled if both bails are still intact on the stumps. As per laws, bails need to be dislodged and fall to the ground. This law was introduced back in the day because we didn't usually have zing bails, and hence, the only way for the umpires to decide if the ball had actually hit the stump was for the bails to fall to the ground. Nowadays, we use stumps with LED lights, which light up when the ball makes even a tiny contact with the stumps. It is high time that this rule should be scrapped.