The ICC have very quietly brought in a ruling over the past 18 months that is having an effect on cricket that spectators are just catching on to.

 

Essentially the ruling is that a days play ends at a dictated time, not when the overs have been bowled. Any overs that have not been bowled or lost to bad light will not be made up at either end of the day.

 

So essentially, the average fan pays for their ticket expecting to see 90 overs, or 88 if a change of innings occurs – but could only in fact end up seeing 80ish overs.

 

This ruling is ludicrous. Examples of crowd displeasure have occurred all around the world.

 

Both in the current series between South Africa and England as well as the recent series between Australia and New Zealand, players have had to walk off the field in playable conditions because the umpires have called stumps under this new ICC directive.

 

In the case of England, it would’ve given them another 5 or so overs against South Africa whilst they were in a prime position to take wickets and increase the chance of a result going in their favour after looking like defeat or a draw were the only chances of a result.

 

There is also the overlooked loop hole that a captain who’s team are suffering and facing a potential defeat could slow the over rate knowing full well that those overs will be lost, therefore having an adverse effect on the games outcome by giving the batting team less overs to make the runs.

 

This rule is outright rubbish and can only serve the television companies who broadcast the games by allowing them to stick to their schedules.

 

Even people in the media and broadcasting companies, such luminaries as Jack Bannister and Neal Manthorpe are against this ruling and have made it publicly known.

 

I’m not sure that there is anything we, the viewing public can do – other than somehow raise our voices and hope that somebody at the ICC hears us.