Item 2026-06 New 2026 Laws of Cricket

WHAT'S THIS ABOUT 

There is a new edition of the Laws of Cricket which will begin in 2026.

DISCUSSION

A new edition of the Laws of Cricket (to be known as The Laws of Cricket 2017 Code  4th edition 2026) will come into force worldwide on 1-Oct 2026. LINK

The whole new Laws (2017 Code 4th Edition) is HERE 

Detailed verbatim changes are listed HERE 

An attempt to explain what each change means is HERE 

There are two questions we must consider:

1. Do we adopt the new edition Laws? (this is 'yes' or 'no') (TBH we have NEVER failed to adopt new rules in the past so why would we start now?)

2. We should adopt the new edition of the Laws from the **start** of the 2026/27 season (i.e 19-Sep-2026) (or wait 12 days and then adopt 'em).

No matter how unnecessary and absurd these questions might seem it is necessary to pass a motion to accept (or not) the new Laws edition so there is no question of doubt or misunderstanding.

There has been a few questions raised such as should we adopt this law change or reject that one. This is a fraught exercise since it might create confusion and cause messages to not be received and understood.

I think we should be accepting all Law changes as written to
  • encourage acceptance of new Laws
  • avoid doubt/confusion in the future and
  • to maintain compatibility between QSDCA cricket and other associations.

Apart from that each and every reference in the Playing Regulations to the "Laws of Cricket 2017 3rd edition 2022" will need to be updated.

There will need to be some related Regs updates to reflect new Law changes (eg. Reg 29.2 about over the head bouncers being called wides is now replaced by the new Law 22.1.3 which supplants the old Law 21.10). 

An attempt to catalogue these is presented below. For the sake of brevity in this post and the Notice of Motion, the changes are kept to intentions rather than spelled out. 

 

PROPOSAL 

OLD REGULATIONS What does this mean?/Why does it need change? PROPOSED NEW REGULATION



29.2 SHORT PITCHED BALLS
For Saturday Two Day Matches
For Saturday One Day 35 Over Matches
For Sunday 50 Over Matches
For Super 20 Matches


29.2.5 Law 21.10 (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will be replaced by the following.

29.2.5 Nil
29.2.6 The bowler’s end umpire will call and signal Wide for any ball which after pitching passes over head height of the batter standing upright at the batting crease. The change to Law 21.10 (it has also moved to Law 22.1.3) makes parts of this redundant. 29.2.6 Law 22.1.3 (2017 Code 4th ed) will apply.
29.2.7 For the avoidance of doubt any short pitched delivery that is called a Wide under Playing Condition 29.2.6 will also count as one of the short pitched deliveries in that over.
29.2.7 For the avoidance of doubt any short pitched delivery that is called a Wide under Law 22.1.3 (2017 Code 4th ed) will also count as one of the short pitched deliveries in that over.
See DIAGRAM in the DIAGRAMS APPENDIX
or at https://qsdca.com.au/05-playing-regulations. (Refers to Reg 29.2.5 and Reg 29.2.6)
Diagram may require a small edit. Wide zone reference can be labelled "See Law 22.1.3 (2017 Code 4th ed)" 






29.3.3 For any free hit, the striker can be dismissed only under the circumstances that apply for a no ball, even if the delivery for the free hit is called wide ball. (See Law 21.18 2017 Code 3rd ed) FOR EXAMPLE Out from a no ball was previously Law 21.18. New 4th ed. is Law 21.17. 29.3.3 For any free hit, the striker can be dismissed only under the circumstances that apply for a no ball, even if the delivery for the free hit is called wide ball. (See Law 21.17 2017 Code 4th ed)
29.3.5 For clarity, the bowler can change their mode of delivery for the free hit delivery. In such circumstances Law 21.1.1 (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will apply. Just a reference change. Law number is unchanged. 29.3.5 For clarity, the bowler can change their mode of delivery for the free hit delivery. In such circumstances Law 21.1.1 (2017 Code 4th ed.) will apply.



12.1 Law 24.2 Fielder absent or leaving the field of play, Law 24.3 Penalty time not incurred and Law 25.3 Restriction on batter commencing an innings (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will not apply and will be replaced by the following:

Specifies some suspended Laws.


12.1 Law 24.2 Fielder absent or leaving the field of play, Law 24.3 Penalty time not incurred and Law 25.3 Restriction on batter commencing an innings  (2017 Code 4th ed.) will not apply and will be replaced by the following:
12.13 Other parts of Law 24 (2017 Code 3rd ed.) (namely 24.1 Substitute fielders and 24.4 Player returning without permission) will still apply.  Specifies some non-suspended Laws. 12.13 Other parts of Law 24  (2017 Code 4th ed.) (namely 24.1 Substitute fielders and 24.4 Player returning without permission) will still apply. 



Any reference to Law xx.x (2017 Code 3rd ed) A check of numbering is required. See checklist below. Becomes Law xx.x (2017 Code 4th ed)
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CLICK to go back to INTRODUCTION         ABM 5-Jul-2026


Laws reference checklist

CHECK ALL THESE FOR LAWS CHANGES

GLOSSARY
“Waist high non-pitching balls" means the same as "waist high full pitch balls" in previous regulations. The term is taken from the Laws of Cricket (Law 41.7 2017 Code 3rd ed.)
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10.12 The following will apply in addition to Law 2.8 (2017 Code 3rd ed.)

12.1 Law 24.2 Fielder absent or leaving the field of play, Law 24.3 Penalty time not incurred and Law 25.3 Restriction on batter commencing an innings (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will not apply and will be replaced by the following:

12.13 Other parts of Law 24 (2017 Code 3rd ed.) (namely 24.1 Substitute fielders and 24.4 Player returning without permission) will still apply.
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20 HOURS OF PLAY
For Saturday Two Day Matches

20.4 The following Laws of Cricket (2017 Code 3rd ed.) are suspended in all competitions in this association.
20.4.1 Law 12.6 Last Hour of Match – Number of Overs
20.4.2 Law 12.7 Last Hour of Match – Interruptions of Play
20.4.3 Law 12.8 Last Hour of Match – Intervals Between Innings
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23 REPLACEMENT PLAYERS
For Saturday Two Day Matches
For Sunday 50 Over Matches
For Super 20 Matches
For Sunday Over 40's - 40 Over Matches

Preamble: Substitute Fielders are defined in Law 24 (2017 Code 3rd ed.) and should not be confused with Replacement Players.

For Saturday Two Day Matches

23.1.8 If the Day One Replaced player is not out in a continuing innings at stumps on Day One then the batting innings can be resumed by any member of the batting team who is not out and subject to Law 25.4 Batter Retiring (2017 Code 3rd ed.)

23.2.9 Any player may act as a substitute fielder only (no batting, no bowling) if not qualified. See Law 24.1 (2017 Code 3rd ed.)
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24 LENGTH OF INNINGS
For Saturday One Day 35 Over Matches
For Sunday 50 Over Matches
For Super 20 Matches
For Sunday Over 40's - 40 Over Matches

24.1 NUMBER OF INNINGS

24.1.3 Law 14 The Follow-On (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will not apply.
24.1.4 Law 15 Declaration And Forfeiture (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will not apply.
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25 INNINGS FINISH TIME
SECOND INNINGS FINISH TIME
For Saturday One Day 35 Over Matches
For Sunday 50 Over Matches
For Sunday Over 40's - 40 Over Matches

25.22 If the second innings ends, after the Second Innings Finish Time has been reached, because play was called off due to suspension under Law 2.8 (2017 Code 3rd Ed.) the team batting second will not receive penalty runs for any whole over they did not face. An average run rate result will apply. (See Playing Regulation 33.4)

25.28 Batters, Captains and all other participants are reminded that Law 41.9 Fielding Side Wasting Time and Law 41.10 Batter Wasting Time (2017 Code 3rd Ed.) will apply at all times in matches.
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26 IN A DELAYED OR INTERRUPTED MATCH
For Saturday One Day 35 Over Matches
For Sunday 50 Over Matches
For Super 20 Matches
For Sunday Over 40's - 40 Over Matches

26.2 Interrupted match means any suspension of play that has occurred under Law 2.7 Fitness for Play or Law 2.8 Suspension of play in dangerous or unreasonable circumstances (2017 Code 3rd ed.)
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28 ONE DAY WIDES
For Saturday One Day 35 Over Matches
For Sunday 50 Over Matches
For Super 20 Matches
For Sunday Over 40's - 40 Over Matches

28.1 Official Umpires and player umpires are instructed to apply very strict and consistent interpretation of Law 22 Wide Ball (2017 Code 3rd ed.) in order to prevent negative bowling wide of the wicket.
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29.2 SHORT PITCHED BALLS
For Saturday Two Day Matches
For Saturday One Day 35 Over Matches
For Sunday 50 Over Matches
For Super 20 Matches

29.2.5 Law 21.10 (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will be replaced by the following.

29.2.6 The bowler’s end umpire will call and signal Wide for any ball which after pitching passes over head height of the batter standing upright at the batting crease.

29.2.7 For the avoidance of doubt any short pitched delivery that is called a Wide under Playing Condition 29.2.6 will also count as one of the short pitched deliveries in that over.

See DIAGRAM in the DIAGRAMS APPENDIX
or at https://qsdca.com.au/05-playing-regulations

29.3.3 For any free hit, the striker can be dismissed only under the circumstances that apply for a no ball, even if the delivery for the free hit is called wide ball. (See Law 21.17 2017 Code 4th ed)

29.3.5 For clarity, the bowler can change their mode of delivery for the free hit delivery. In such circumstances Law 21.1.1 (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will apply.

29.5 PENALTY
For Saturday Two Day Matches
For Saturday One Day 35 Over Matches
For Sunday 50 Over Matches
For Super 20 Matches

29.5.1 Law 21.15 (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will apply. The penalty for a no ball will be 1 run.
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30 TIMED OUT
For Saturday Two Day Matches
For Saturday One Day Matches
For Sunday 50 Over Matches
For Super 20 Matches

30.1 Law 40 (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will apply.
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30 TIMED OUT
For Super 20 Matches

30.1 Law 40 (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will apply except that the incoming batter must be in position to take guard or for their partner to be ready to receive the next ball within 90 seconds of the fall of the previous wicket.
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33 RESULT OF THE MATCH
For Saturday Two Day Matches

33.1 Law 16 (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will apply.
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For Sunday Over 40’s - 40 Over Matches
PREAMBLE (adapted from the Queensland Veterans Cricket Rules 2021)
• These Rules are written in the "Spirit of Veterans Cricket".
• Like Qld Veterans Cricket, the Queensland Sub Districts Cricket Association encourages all players and administrators to follow them with that in mind.
• "Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact it should be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse the spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with captains" from the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code 3rd ed.)
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31 RUNNERS FOR INJURED BATTERS
For Sunday Over 40's - 40 Over Matches

BATTERS RETIRE AT 50
31.6 Batters will retire on scoring 50 runs in Over 40's matches.
 
31.7 Subject to the dismissal of all other batters, retired batters must return to the crease in the order that they retired.
 
31.8 Any batters retiring due to genuine injury or illness with the umpires agreement (as opposed to being compulsory retired under Playing Regulation 31.6), may continue their innings at the fall of a wicket as per normal “retired hurt” rules. See Law 25.4 (2017 Code 3rd ed.)
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Applies to All Competitions
41.4 Law 42 Player Conduct (2017 Code 3rd ed.) will not be used in any competition in this association.
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Appendix B INTOXIFICATION

An intoxicated player who is a batter leaving the field, or not commencing his innings shall be recorded as “Retired – Out”, and shall not bat again for the duration of that day’s play. [Law 25.4.3 (2017 Code 3rd ed.)]
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Appendix F DOUBTFUL BOWLING ACTIONS
F1 Introduction
1.1 The aim of these procedures is to ensure that all bowlers playing cricket in Queensland have actions that comply with Law 21.2 Fair Delivery – The Arm (2017 Code 3rd ed.)

1.3 Nothing contained herein shall override an umpire’s responsibility and discretion to apply Law 21 (2017 Code 3rd ed.)

F2 Umpires
2.1 Umpires have a duty to ensure the game is played within both the Laws and the Spirit of the game. Umpires must police Law 21.2 Fair Delivery – The Arm (2017 Code 3rd ed.), by notifying Queensland Cricket if they observe any bowler in a match situation who, in their opinion, possesses an action that may contravene these Laws.
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Appendix G LIGHTNING 30-30 RULE
Play will be suspended in Dangerous or Unreasonable Conditions
The following will apply in addition to Law 2.8 (2017 Code 3rd ed.):
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Appendix L PLAYER UMPIRE POLICY

L1 Any person appointed as a player umpire in QSDCA match is appointed under the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code 3rd ed) and by the consent of the two captains of the teams in the match and has the same status, rights, powers and responsibilities as any other umpire.
L2 In accordance with the Preamble - The Spirit of Cricket, Laws 1.4 and 41.1 (2017 Code 3rd ed.), Captains will be held responsible for both the conduct of and behaviour towards any person acting as a player umpire.
L3 In addition to the Codes of Behaviour, The Spirit of Cricket and provisions of Law 2 The Umpires(2017 Code 3rd ed.), the following statements are applicable to player umpires whether in partnership with a Cricket Australia accredited umpire or in Player Umpire only matches.

L7 Player umpires will be familiar with suitable umpiring practices and the laws of Cricket (2017 Code 3rd ed.) the game including but not limited to:
• run out
• stumped
• hit wicket
• short runs
• creases
• conditions of ground weather and light
• wicket-keeper position
• height of non-pitching and short pitched balls
• boundaries
• fair catches
• signals to scorers
• umpire to umpire signals

L11 Player umpires will report to the other umpire any pitch damage made by batters or fielders. See Laws 41.12 and 41.14 (2017 Code 3rd ed.)
L12 Player umpires do not need to explain their decisions nor should there be any expectation to do so.
L13 All players and participants are expected to be sufficiently familiar with the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code 3rd ed.) and the Spirit of Cricket and the Codes of Behaviour as found in the QSDCA Playing Regulations.

L19 All participants must behave at all times in a way that does not breach the Laws of Cricket (such as Laws 41.09 and 41.10 (2017 Code 3rd ed.)) or the Code Of Behaviour (such as Dissent and Conduct Detrimental to the Game).
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23 REPLACEMENT PLAYERS
For Night T10 Matches

Preamble: Substitute fielders are defined in Law 24.1 (2017 Code 3rd ed.). Eligibility to bat is defined in Law 25.1 (2017 Code 3rd ed.). This “Super Sub Rule” applies only to the Night T10 competition.
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