Bowlers watch out, law has changed

DUBAI: If a bowler breaks the stumps at the non-striker's end during a delivery, umpires will call it a no-ball from April 30 in all international cricket.

The International Cricket Council's new law will first affect a one-day international between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh at Bulawayo on May 3.

“The recent interpretation used in international matches to call `dead ball' when a bowler breaks the wicket during a delivery has not adequately dealt with this situation,'' ICC general manager cricket Geoff Allardice said in a statement on Thursday.

Although Marylebone Cricket Club wanted to introduce the new no-ball law from Oct. 1, the ICC wanted to introduce the new playing condition as early as possible.

Allardice said there was a lot of important cricket before Oct. 1, including the Champions Trophy in June in England and Wales. (AP)