BBL proposes change to timed out law to ensure faster play

Intending to expedite on-field cricketing proceedings, Australia’s Big Bash league is mulling to introduce a new version of the timed-out rule in the upcoming edition of the tournament.

The current status of the Timed-Out law, as provided under 40.1.1 states: “After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be in a position to take guard or for the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within 3 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batter will be out, Timed out.”

Ahead of BBL’s 2020-21 edition, Cricket Australia amended the playing conditions to allow a new batter with up to 60 seconds to be ready, although the rule was not stringently followed, with batters often taking more than permitted time without bearing any consequences. For the upcoming summer, CA is contemplating extending the dismissal time to 75 seconds but, unlike the previous edition, the match officials will be instructed to follow them strictly.

However, unlike the conventional law 40.1.1, the batter would not be simply adjudged Timed Out should s/he fail to meet the 75-second deadline. Instead, the batter will be told to stand parallel to the stumps and the bowler will be allowed to deliver a “free delivery” at the stumps. If in case the bowler misses hitting the stumps, the batter will be allowed to continue to bat.

In another proposal to speed up the proceedings, a restriction on the number of drinks breaks is being contemplated, with breaks being allowed only at the end of overs fifth, 10th and 15th.

Further, BBL was also understood to take a cue from the recently-concluded The Hundred, where teams were penalised for slow “over-rates” by the loss of one fielder outside the fielding circle from the point penalty was incurred. In other words, an extra fielder had to be brought inside the 30-yeard circle for every ball delivered beyond the permitted time slot of an hour and 15 minutes. Though, the introduction of the said penalty in the upcoming BBL edition has been ruled out by Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s General Manager of Big Bash Leagues.

The intended proposals are understood to be adopted to encourage faster play, given the matches in nearly every league across the world have gone on to last well beyond the three-hour cap in recent years.