Finn incidents may prompt MCC law change

By Paul Bolton, County News Correspondent

England paceman Steven Finn’s regular disturbing of the stumps at the non-striker’s end in his delivery stride has prompted the MCC to consider a law change that would make a repeat occurrence a no-ball.

Finn’s actions do not contravene any existing law but Australian umpires Steve Davis and Rod Tucker set a precedent when they decided to call dead ball after South African batsmen Graeme Smith and Alviro Petersen claimed they were being distracted when Finn dislodged the bails during the second Test at Headingley in August.

England were controversially denied the wicket of Smith, who edged Finn to slip, only for Davis to call dead ball because the stumps at the non-striker’s end had been disturbed. Finn’s actions have divided opinion and produced different responses at international and county level.

International umpires have allowed Finn to break the stumps once but called dead ball for subsequent instances. But the England and Wales Cricket Board issued instructions to county umpires that dead ball should not be called for similar incidents in county cricket.

Finn is not the only bowler who has broken the non-striker’s end stumps but he is a frequent offender and his actions have prompted the MCC, the game’s law makers, to consider a law change.

Finn’s actions were debated at length by the MCC’s laws sub-committee recently and consideration will be given to making dislodging of the bails by the bowler a non-ball by the MCC’s laws drafting group at a meeting at Lord’s today.

The drafting group includes former England batsman John Jameson, who was responsible for redrafting the Laws of Cricket 12 years ago, Alan Fordham, the England and Wales Cricket Board’s head of first-class cricket operations, and Fraser Stewart, the MCC’s laws manager.

The drafting group reports back to the laws sub-committee and any changes to the laws will not come into effect until October 1 next year. However the International Cricket Council can introduce law changes earlier than that for international cricket.



Date: 02/10/2012 11:02:43 by Paul Bolton
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