Know the game
Cricket rules 2026
Short, plain-language guides to the latest international playing conditions and Laws of Cricket. Read one, then share it with your teammates.
These are club summaries to help members learn the game. For match decisions always refer to the official ICC Playing Conditions and MCC Laws of Cricket.
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13 articles
- Match flowThe stop clock: 60 seconds between oversFielding teams now have one minute to start the next over. Two warnings per innings, then every breach costs five penalty runs.Read & share →
- FieldingBoundary catches: the end of the 'bunny hop'A fielder who is airborne beyond the rope can now touch the ball only once. Juggling it back and forth outside the boundary no longer counts.Read & share →
- Bowling & the ballODIs: two new balls, then oneIn one-day internationals two new balls are used for overs 1 to 34. The fielding side then picks one of them for the rest of the innings.Read & share →
- Bowling & the ballNo saliva on the ballUsing saliva to shine the ball is not allowed. Sweat is fine. Umpires now only change the ball if its condition has actually changed.Read & share →
- Umpiring & reviewsRunning out the non-striker is a normal run outA bowler can run out a non-striker who leaves the crease too early. Since 2022 it sits in the run-out Law, not under unfair play.Read & share →
- BattingAfter a catch, the new batter facesWhen a batter is caught, the incoming batter takes strike, even if the two batters crossed while the ball was in the air.Read & share →
- Umpiring & reviewsNo more soft signalOn-field umpires no longer give a 'soft signal' when they refer a catch. The TV umpire decides on the evidence alone.Read & share →
- Laws updateNo-balls and free hits explainedA front-foot no-ball in white-ball cricket brings a free hit. Here is what the batter can and can't be out to, and when byes count.Read & share →
- Laws updateWhat's new in the 2026 Laws of CricketThe MCC's new edition of the Laws takes effect on 1 October 2026. Here are the changes most likely to matter in club cricket.Read & share →
- Wicket-keepingWhere the wicket-keeper must standThe keeper must stay completely behind the stumps until the ball reaches the batter. Here's what counts as behind, and what movement is allowed.Read & share →
- Wicket-keepingKeeping gloves, pads and the helmet on the groundOnly the keeper may wear gloves and leg guards. Glove webbing has limits, and a ball hitting a helmet left on the ground gives away 5 runs.Read & share →
- Wicket-keepingStumpings explainedWhen is it stumped, when is it run out, and can you be stumped off a wide? A quick guide for keepers and batters.Read & share →
- Wicket-keepingByes and leg-byes: the keeper's scorecardByes are runs taken when the ball misses everything, and they are counted against the keeper. Leg-byes have an extra condition. Here is the difference.Read & share →