A possible solution to updating your 4th edition 2011 of Tom Smith's
(ISBN-13 978 0 297 8664411)
As you may realise, there were two changes to the Laws of Cricket that came into effect on 1st October, 2015. The purpose of the existing Laws was to prevent a fielder & wicket-keeper significantly altering their position as the ball comes into play, until the ball reaches the striker (e.g. running back from square leg to deep square leg as the bowler runs in); this being seen as deception and/or distraction of the striker. Movement off line or away from the striker was disallowed.
Close fielders were only allowed minor adjustments to stance or position, whereas outfielders were permitted to ‘walk in’ normally towards the striker or the striker’s wicket; anything other than slight movement off line or away from the striker was disallowed.
The intention of the redrafted Law is to retain all of the thrust of the existing Law, but to allow a fielder to move significantly, before the ball has reached the striker, if it is in response to the stroke the striker is playing or that his actions suggest he is intending to play.
It is felt that such movement is ‘intelligent fielding’ in response to a stroke, and should therefore be allowed: for example when Steve Smith moved from slip to leg slip to catch Fawad Alam in an ODI in Abu Dhabi in 2014.
I have adapted the information on the MCC website that lists & explains the changes. I've used that to update my own copy of Tom Smith's as, it seems, there are no known plans to update & re-issue it as a 5th edition at this stage.
In doing this, I realised that there were likely to be others who needed to do the same, so I've put together a Word document that anyone might use. This is designed to be cut up with scissors (along the "cut" lines shown) & glued into the 4th edition of Tom Smith's, having added the earlier Law changes that came into effect on 1st October, 2013 in a similar manner. I suggest that you only cut along the cut lines in the first instance & then check that the size is correct or if additional trimming is needed before proceeding. When all seems satisfactory, it's possibly best to attach the updated section by one edge, using some sort of paper glue. I always attached at left side of the page for both odd & even page numbers. This allows one to look back at the original wording of that Law that was used prior to the latest changes. If correctly cut & attached the additions should largely cover the obsolete Law section.
Having said all of the above, my usual liability waiver applies. In no way is it a complete fix but merely for personal use until a new version of Tom Smith's is published. Also, I hope the cut & paste (scissors & glue) works as I planned it, but no guarantees on this either as different printers may produce a somewhat differently formatted update page!!! Also, only the edition of Tom Smith's bearing ISBN-13 978 0 297 8664411 has been tested & found suitable.
My apologies for the small font size but this seems to be the best way to ensure that the changes fit reasonably well over the various sections they replace.
Good luck to all who use this quick & dirty fix. Please let me know if you find serious problems with it.
Trevor Woodage
The paragraph immediately below should be pasted over the existing section 4 of Law 40 (now obsolete) on Page 207 of Tom Smith's Cricket Umpiring and Scoring first published in 2011.
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4. MOVEMENT BY WICKET-KEEPER
After the ball comes into play and before it reaches the striker, it is unfair if the wicket-keeper
significantly alters his position in relation to the striker’s wicket, except for the following:
(i) movement of a few paces forward for a slower delivery, unless in so doing
it brings him within reach of the wicket.
(ii) lateral movement in response to the direction in which the ball has been delivered.
(iii) movement in response to the stroke that the striker is playing or that his actions suggest
he intends to play. However, the provisions of Law 40.3 (Position of wicket-keeper) shall apply.
In the event of unfair movement by the wicket-keeper,
either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball.
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The paragraph immediately below should be pasted over existing sections 7 and 8 (now both obsolete) on Page 212 of Tom Smith's Cricket Umpiring and Scoring first published in 2011
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7 MOVEMENT BY FIELDERS OTHER THAN THE WICKET-KEEPER
Any movement by any fielder, excluding the wicket-keeper, after the ball comes
into play and before the ball reaches the striker, is unfair except for the following:
(i) minor adjustments to stance or position in relation to the striker’s wicket.
(ii) movement by any fielder, other than a close fielder, towards the striker or
the striker’s wicket that does not significantly alter the position of the fielder.
(iii) movement by any fielder in response to the stroke that the striker is playing
or that his actions suggest he intends to play.
Notwithstanding (iii) above,
in all circumstances Law 41.5 (Limitation of on side fielders) shall apply.
In the event of such unfair movement, either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball.
Note also the provisions of Law 42.4 (Deliberate attempt to distract striker).
See also Law 40.4 (Movement by wicket-keeper).
(Note – the existing Law 41.8 has been deleted.)
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