Time to Amend ICC Law 38: Run Out

Every ardent follower of cricket would agree that ICC Rule 38 for “Run Out” is flawed and nonsensical pertaining to the situation when a batsman dives to avoid run out. It requires immediate reconsideration and subsequent amendment to provide fairness to the endeavor of the batsman.

Let’s discuss a virtual situation which often prevails in the modern cricket: A batsman ABC hits a shot and calls for a sharp single run. The batsman XYZ at the bowler’s end (non-striker’s end) sprints to complete the run. Unfortunately XYZ realizes while taking the run that he might fall short of batting crease and get himself run out; therefore, he dives, fully prostrate on his belly stretching out his bat into the batting crease to complete the run. In the meanwhile a throwing ball from the fieldsman directly hits the stumps and whole fielding side appeals for a run out. Being a touch & go decision, the field umpire refers the matter to third umpire for a decision. TV replay shows that although batsman’s bat crosses the crease line but it still hangs in the air. XYZ is adjudged run out and the fielding team celebrates the feat.

We have been watching these kinds of run outs more frequently owing to the meteoric increase in the number of ICC events round the any single year. Sometimes these run outs play turning point towards fate of the match.

Let’s analyze the foregoing scenario. Starting with the shape of bat; its face (blade or hitting area) is almost flat along its entire length with a slight convex curve in the middle. Bat’s back side (non-hitting area) has bulge which starts from the top (bottom of handle) in the center of its width of 4.5 inches and runs down along its length/height. The bulge increases the most exactly at a point opposite to the “stroke area” of the blade. The bulge then drops immediately and flattens at the bottom of the bat which is only 1.5 inch thick. Now, if a bat is spin and thrown on ground, most of the time it would rest on its back due to its weight concentrated in its back side.

When a batsman runs and throws himself on the ground near the crease for completing the run, he extends the bat into crease to save him from being given run out. It has been observed much to the pain and anguish of the batsman that the bat lands with its back side touching the ground and skidding across the crease. The shape of bat puts it hang a few inches above the ground and makes the batsman declared run out.

Now, where does a fault lie with the poor batsman? This is absolutely unjustified that a batsman is given run out merely because he failed to land his bat into the crease with its face/blade “down” touching the ground. All his effort goes in vain perhaps, costing a match to his side.

Will MCC or ICC reconsider the Law 38 and amend it to favor the batsman please?