Changes in the Old and Modern Rules of Cricket
In India, people are crazy about cricket and currently, the World Cup also going on so I decided to make this post. Most of the younger people started watching cricket which is our current modern cricket. They won’t even know what the older cricket was like, and neither do I. I started watching it from around 2010 -11 (yeah World Cup). Let’s see the Changes in the Old and Modern Rules of Cricket.
I tried to find as many changes as possible regarding not only the rules but also regarding the overall cricket, from the stadium, players, and shots to the effect of it. Get ready to see how cricket shaped itself from its older version to modern cricket.
Equipment Changes
In the past, cricket bats were much heavier, with thicker edges, but the Modern bats are lighter, and have a thicker sweet spot. Protective gear in the olden days was minimal, with players wearing a cap and some padding. In modern cricket, players wear helmets, chest guards, leg guards, gloves, and other protective gear to minimize injury risks.
Pitch and Ground Changes
In the old days, pitches were natural and could vary significantly in terms of their condition, making the game highly unpredictable. Modern pitches are carefully maintained, offering a more consistent bounce and aiding both batsmen and bowlers.
Old cricket grounds often had okayssh facilities for players and spectators but Modern cricket grounds are equipped with world-class services for players and fans, including floodlights for day-night matches.
Over Formats Changes
Traditional Test cricket is played over five days, with no fixed limit on the number of overs per day but as days passed, Limited-overs formats, such as ODIs and T20s, have fixed over limits which made the game shorter and more spectator-friendly.
Batting Techniques
In the past, batting techniques were more orthodox, with a greater emphasis on defense and patience, but with limited-overs cricket, players have developed more aggressive and unorthodox shot-making techniques to score quickly, including reverse sweeps, switch hits, and scoop shots.
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Fielding Restrictions and Fielding Positions
In Test cricket, there were no fielding restrictions, and captains could set any field they desired but in Limited-overs cricket they introduced fielding restrictions, like powerplays, which limit the number of fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle during certain periods.
Bowling Rules
Old cricket saw underarm bowling in the earliest days, which evolved into overarm bowling and Modern rules require a bowler to have a straight-arm action. They use technology to monitor and regulate illegal bowling actions that might confer an unfair advantage to bowlers.
Spin bowling was considered a defensive art in traditional cricket, with spinners primarily tasked with containing runs but, in limited-overs cricket, spinners are often employed to take wickets and control the game. They use variations like the doosra and googly to beat the batsmen.
LBW Rules
In the past, LBW decisions were often subjective and relied heavily on the umpire’s judgment but in modern cricket, technology, such as ball-tracking, helps in making LBW decisions more accurate.
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Tiebreakers
In the past, tied matches were often left as such, with no provision for tiebreakers to determine a winner but in limited-overs cricket, if a match ends in a tie, a Super Over is used to determine the winner. In some cases, the number of wickets lost is used as a tiebreaker.
Scoring
In olden times, running between the wickets was the primary mode of scoring runs but as cricket started growing they started focusing on the boundaries (fours and sixes) as power-hitting techniques have evolved, and fielding restrictions encouraged aggressive batting.
In early forms of cricket, a batsman was not credited with any runs if the ball was caught off the first bounce by a fielder. This was known as a “handout.” Today, a batsman is awarded runs for such shots, provided the ball doesn’t touch the ground before being caught. This change has encouraged more aggressive shot-making.
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Commercialization and Broadcasting
Cricket used to be less commercialized, with limited opportunities for sponsorship and television coverage but now it is a highly commercialized sport with multiple broadcasting deals, sponsorships, and the Indian Premier League (IPL) serving as a prime example of the commercial success of the sport.
Overthrow Runs
In traditional cricket, overthrows were not awarded, and runs were not added to the team’s total if the ball was deflected off a fielder or the stumps and went to the boundary but in modern cricket, overthrows can result in extra runs being awarded to the batting side. If the ball reaches the boundary due to an overthrow, the batting side receives extra runs.
Fielding Substitutes
In earlier forms of cricket, fielding substitutes were not common, and players often had to continue playing through injuries but now they allow substitute fielders who can replace injured players for fielding, not for batting or bowling.
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No-Ball Rules
In the past, a no-ball was called if the bowler’s back foot was completely outside the bowling crease when delivering the ball but the modern rules allow for a part of the bowler’s foot to be behind the crease when releasing the ball. This change has made it more difficult for bowlers to avoid overstepping.
Stumpings and Run-Outs
In traditional cricket, a batsman could not be stumped or run out if any part of their body was behind the crease but the modern rule allows the batsman to be given out even if a part of the body is on the line but not behind it. This change has made it easier for wicketkeepers and fielders to effect stumpings and run-outs.
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Player Contracts and Franchise Leagues
In the modern era, players often have central contracts with their national boards and can participate in big franchise-based leagues like the Indian Premier League (IPL), Big Bash League (BBL), and others. This has led to increased professionalism and financial rewards for players.
Women’s Cricket Development
In recent years, there has been significant growth in women’s cricket. It has been promoted, and more opportunities and financial support have been provided to female cricketers, leading to a rise in the standard and popularity of the women’s game.
As you can see cricket had been changed from what it was when started and changed as it gained popularity.
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If you enjoy reading it, comment below and leave your suggestions and any other topics that I should write about in the comments. Don’t just read alone share it with others in this way everybody will enjoy it. I will be back soon with another game or related info. Till then…
—DHANYAVAAD—