New Zealand braced for new cricket rules on tour of India

MUMBAI: Ahead of their series against India, New Zealand have more on their mind than just tackling the tough sub-continent conditions. It’s been a season of changes, tweaking of rules as well as the structure of international cricket.

When the Kane Williamsonled side last played international cricket, a delivery was allowed to bounce twice and a batsman will be given run out if he lost touch with the turf after grounding his bat inside the crease. But in this series, if the ball bounces twice, it will be a no ball; a batsman won’t be given run out if his bat bounces after he had grounded inside the crease.

These are among changes the International Cricket Council (ICC) has introduced to the playing conditions since September 28. Some find the rules already quite complicated, and now Williamson and his men will have to be alert to apply their minds to the new Code of Laws, the first since 2000.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson called his captain Williamson a smart cricketer who will be able to grasp the changes.

“The rules, we’ve distributed them (to the players). We’re aware of them, guys instinctively being aware of what they are,” Hesson said in the team’s arrival media conference on Sunday.

Of particular interest to the players will be the rule where a player can now be sent off for serious misconduct, like being red-carded in football.

“A player can now be sent off the field by the umpire for the rest of a match for serious misconduct. This will apply to most Level 4 offences,” the rule states.

Also, “if a bowler bowls a deliberate no-ball, he can be removed from the attack for the rest of the innings.”