MCC may change Laws on oversized bats

Restrictions on the size, depth and weight of cricket bats could be enshrined in cricket's Laws from October 2017 after Ricky Ponting's campaign to limit the impact of 'big bats' was endorsed by the MCC.

The Marylebone Cricket Club's World Cricket committee was not unanimous in agreeing that the balance has tilted to it was now too easy for batsmen to clear the boundary in all forms of cricket, even with mis-timed shots.

However, there was an overwhelming view in favour of imposing restrictions which could see bats used by the game's power hitters like David Warner heavily restricted.

The move is an about-face from the last time the MCC considered bat sizes restrictions, in 2014, when it decided against any restrictions despite finding that bat thickness had increased up to 22 mm, the size of the 'sweet spot' on the face of the bat was almost two-and-a-half times larger, and that the thickness of edges in modern bats had increased by almost 300 per cent which, combined with greater stiffness to limit vibrations, meant mis-hits can travel much further.

Ponting had called for the introduction of restrictions last week, but had said the restriction should only apply for Test cricket. The prospect of imposing different Laws for different formats was not addressed in the MCC's summary of the World Cricket committee meeting.

The ability of bat-makers to produce bats with thicker edges without adding extra weight to them by using denser wood has become an increasing concern for some. This gives players access to huge, but relatively light, bats.

"I don't mind it (big bats) for the shorter versions of the game," Ponting said last week.

"I would actually say you've got a bat you can use in Test cricket and a certain type of bat you can use in one-day cricket and T20 cricket.

"The short forms of the game survive on boundaries — fours and sixes — whereas the Test game is being dominated too much now by batters because the game is a bit easier for them than it was."

The World Cricket committee will now seek the input of bat manufacturers and scientists to finalise the exact details, with a view to amending the current Laws in the MCC's update which is due to come in from 1 October 2017.

It would mean the next Ashes series, to be played in Australia in the 2017-18 summer, would likely be the first major Test series played under the new Laws.

The MCC has proposed a maximum thickness of a bat edge to be between 35mm and 40mm, and the overall depth of the bat to be between 60mm and 65mm.

Some bats in current use have edges of 55mm and can be up to 80mm deep.

"If you are strong enough to use them that's fine, but you should not get a bat that's bigger in size than MS Dhoni's but a whole lot lighter," Ponting said at the Australian Cricket Society's annual dinner.

"Chris Gayle's the same. Everyone talks about Chris Gayle's bat size, but it's 3½lbs (1.58kg). He's big enough and strong enough to use it.

"I only get worried when they are really big and really light."

Batsmen such as Warner and former Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum have spoken out against any change to bats, and the decision was met with scorn by a host of former international batsmen on social media, while bowlers such as Australia's Josh Hazlewood are in favour of the change.

Warner said flat pitches were as much a source for higher run-rates and longer hitting as bigger bats.

"If people think it’s becoming an unfair advantage people will speak their opinion," Warner said.

"But we’re getting bigger and stronger as well, we’re capable of using those bats that are a bit heavy.

"From my point of view in Tests I use a smaller bat, unless I’m in the subcontinent when I use a heavier bat. My heavy bats might be a lot larger than other players’ bats, but it’s still the same cleft of wood."

The move ahead to introduce limits will no doubt please bowlers such as Hazlewood, who believes restrictions should apply to Test cricket.

"I'm all for it," Hazlewood when asked for a fast bowler's opinion on restricting bat sizes.

"Some of those cricket bats going around the dressing shed at the moment are unbelievably big."

Former Black Caps skipper McCullum will join the World Cricket committee later this month and will be sure to add a dissenting view to the plans after sharing his views with cricket.com.au last month.

"It's still wood though isn't it?" McCullum said of modern bats. "Ultimately, if you can find the best piece of wood you shouldn't be penalised for that.

"It's a natural product - it's wood. If you've got the right people to find a piece of wood for you that's big and you're able to lift then, in my mind, play on.

"You've still got to be able to lift them. My bats are 3lbs 1oz (1.38kg) for instance but you've got to lift them and that's the thing."

A statement from the World Cricket committee said there was "a clear safety concern" for close fielders, bowlers and umpires with modern bats able to generate considerable power.

"The recreational game is also suffering, as balls are flying into nearby residential properties with increasing frequency, thus threatening the existence of some smaller cricket clubs," the committee's statement also said.

The exact wording and measurements for any restriction is yet to be determined, and any proposed change to the Laws would still need to be agreed to by the MCC's Main Committee before it could be included in an updated Code of Laws that is currently being re-written by the MCC.

Who is on the MCC World Cricket committee?

The MCC describes its World Cricket committee as "an independent voice in world cricket, free from considerations of politics, money and race". It meets twice yearly – with the next meeting to be held in India in December.

The committee is empowered to conduct research, particularly into technological advances and bio-mechanical elements of the game. The MCC funds this work as part of its commitment to develop cricket worldwide.

Current members include: Mike Brearley (Chairman), Jimmy Adams, Charlotte Edwards, Sourav Ganguly, Rod Marsh, Tim May, Shaun Pollock, Ricky Ponting, Ramiz Raja, David Richardson, Kumar Sangakkara, Vincent Van Der Bijl.

This meeting marked the end of the tenure for Shaun Pollock (who did not attend) and ICC chief executive David Richardson. Brendon McCullum joins the committee in October.