LAW CHANGES 2022 - Explanation of changes from MCC. Since the publication of the 2017 Code of the Laws of Cricket, the game has changed in numerous ways. The 2nd edition of that Code, published in 2019, made relatively minor changes. The 2022 Code, however, made some rather bigger changes, from the way we talk about cricket to the way it’s played. These changes came into effect on 1 October 2022 for cricket played all around the world and are therefore pertinent to the 2023 English season and beyond. These explanations refer to the most significant although many more Laws have been amended and updated: Batters. The most striking change, which affects almost every Law, is the replacement of the gendered terms batsman and batsmen, to batter and batters. This was announced in September 2021. MCC believes that the use of gender-neutral terminology helps reinforce cricket’s status as an inclusive game for all. The amendments are a natural evolution from work already undertaken in this area as well as an essential part of MCC’s global responsibility to the sport. LAW 18. There are five changes in this Law. The most significant is to Law 18.11. First trialled by the ECB in The Hundred, Law 18.11 has now been changed so that, when a batter is out Caught, the new batter shall come in at the end the striker was at, i.e. to face the next ball (unless it is the end of an over). Under the previous Laws, a bowler could take a wicket, and still have to bowl at a set batter if the batters managed to cross. It was felt that the bowler should be rewarded with the chance to bowl at the [...]