Two test series starting later this week will mark the introduction of a number of new cricket laws.
Pakistan against Sri Lanka and South Africa against Bangladesh will see the introduction of 17 changes for all formats of the game.
*The restriction on the length and width of bats remain unchanged but the thickness of the edges cannot be more than 40mm and the overall depth can be 67 mm at the most. Umpires will be issued with a new bat gauge, which they can use to check a bats legality.
*A player can now be sent off the field for the rest of the match for any serious misconduct, such as threatening to assault an umpire, making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact with an umpire, physically assaulting a player or any other violent conduct.
*A review by a team using DRS will now not be lost in case of a decision that remains unchanged, solely as the result of an "umpire's call".
Neil Wagner before being run out for 26. Photo: Photosport
*A batsman is no longer considered run out or stumped if running or diving towards the crease with forward momentum, and has grounded the bat behind the popping crease but subsequently has lost contact with the ground at the time of the wickets being put down.
This change has been referred to the Wagner rule after Black Caps player Neil Wagner was dismissed run out in New Zealand's test against Bangladesh in Christchurch in January when he had clearly gone past the stumps before they were broken.
However although Wagner had grounded his bat, at the moment the bails were taken off his entire body, and bat, were off the ground.
*For boundary catches, airborne fielders making their first contact with the ball will need to have taken off from within the boundary, otherwise a four or six will be scored.
*A batsman can now be out caught, stumped or run out even if the ball bounces off the helmet worn by a fielder or wicketkeeper.
-Reuters and RNZ
