The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced a major overhaul of cricket’s laws, introducing 73 amendments in a new edition released on Tuesday. The revised laws will take effect from October 1, 2026. Among the most notable changes, play will no longer stop at the fall of a wicket in the final over of a day in multi-day matches, including Tests. The new batter must immediately take the field if conditions permit. MCC explained that the previous rule gave an unfair advantage to the batting side and reduced the drama of the game.

Other key updates include stricter rules for boundary catches, allowing a fielder jumping from outside the boundary to touch the ball only once before completing the catch inside the field. Laminated bats will now be permitted in adult club cricket to reduce costs, with national boards deciding their level of use. The definitions of hit wicket, overthrow, and dead ball have been clarified, and captains will no longer be allowed to declare in the final innings.

Before implementation, the ICC Cricket Committee will discuss these changes to decide whether to include them in international playing conditions, while domestic adoption will depend on each country’s board.