Running out the non-striker while backing up has been moved from 'unfair play' (Law 41) to 'run-out section' (Law 38) as the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) announced a set of amendments, on Wednesday.
'The bowler is always painted as the villain but it is a legitimate way to dismiss someone and it is the non-striker who is stealing the ground,' Fraser Stewart, MCC Laws Manager, told the Times.
Further, the prohibition on applying saliva to maintain the shine of the ball, which came into effect in the wake of Covid-19, will continue to stand. MCC’s research found this had minimal effect on the swing and seam of the ball. Using saliva will henceforth be treated as an unfair method to alter the condition of the ball.
Further, if a batter gets out caught, the incoming batter will be at the striker's end, unless the dismissal happened on the last ball of the over, irrespective of whether the batters have crossed.
There are many other notable changes that will come into effect from 1 October.
Stewart added: 'It is important that we announce these changes now as part of the club's global commitment to the game, giving officials from all over the world the chance to learn under the new Code ahead of the Laws coming into force in October.'
The batters also have the right to hit the ball even if it lands outside the strip. However, some part of the batter's body or bat needs to touch the strip at that point. If they venture outside the pitch while attacking, it will be called dead ball.