B. New Ball after 80 overs not 75 (Law 4.4 and Reg 21.19)

 WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?

The QSDCA Playing regulation 21.19 allows a new ball after 75 overs.

The Laws of Cricket say new ball at 80 overs.

From The Laws of Cricket 2017 3rd ed (2022) 4.4 New ball in match of more than one day’s duration In a match of more than one day’s duration, the captain of the fielding side may demand a new ball when the number of overs, excluding any part overs, bowled with the old one is equal to or greater than 80 overs. The umpire shall inform the other umpire and indicate to the batters and the scorers whenever a new ball is taken into play.

 DISCUSSION

This is not actually due to a mistake. It's a choice we made about 3 years back.

• For several years the Subbies regulations said 'new ball after 80 overs'.
• The Laws of Cricket in 2015 actually said 75. 
• So in 2016 Subbies regs were changed to say 75.
• The new Laws of Cricket came out in 2017. Among 50 dozen other changes, new ball went to 80 overs.
• In 2019, a Notice of Motion to change back to 80 overs was defeated at the AGM. 
• We stayed at new balls after 75 overs.

There is an argument in favour here which goes something like 75 overs for a new ball gives a bowling side a (small) chance of getting a new ball just before stumps on day 1 if they are struggling to bowl out a batting side... but I'm not sure this actually happens much.

In any case why is it 75 overs? Maybe 70 or 65 would make things more competitive? (Or expensive.…)

CCC has adopted new balls after 80 overs for their Playing Regulations.
New balls in QSDCA should be the SAME as the laws of cricket on this one.

It's nuts they're not.

OLD REGULATION	PROPOSED NEW WORDING
THE BALL	THE BALL
....	...
21.19 The fielding team may choose to take a new ball after the completion of no less than 75 overs in any innings.	21.19 The fielding team may choose to take a new ball after the completion of no less than 75 80 overs in any innings.

 

ABM 1-Jun-2022

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