2. Law 2 - Substitutes and Runners, Batsman or Fielder Leaving the Field, Batsman Retiring, Batsman Commencing Innings

Law 2.1 (b) shall be amended as follows: The umpires shall have discretion to allow, for other wholly acceptable reasons, a substitute fielder to act for a nominated player at the start of the match, or at any subsequent time.

2.2Law 2.5 - Fielder absent or leaving the field Law 2.5 shall be replaced by the following: If a fielder fails to take the field with his side at the start of the match or at any later time, or leaves the field during a session of play, the umpire shall be informed of the reason for his absence, and he shall not thereafter come on to the field during a session of play without the consent of the umpire. (See Law 2.6 as modified). The umpire shall give such consent as soon as practicable.

If a player is absent from the field for longer than 8 minutes, the following restrictions shall apply to their future participation in the match:

2.2.1The player shall not be permitted to bowl in the match until he has either been able to field, or his team has subsequently been batting, for the total length of playing time for which he was absent (hereafter referred to as penalty time), subject to a maximum cumulative penalty time of 40 minutes. If any unexpired penalty time remains at the end of the first innings, it is carried forward to the Super Over if applicable.

2.2.2The player shall not be permitted to bat in the match until his team’s batting innings has been in progress for the length of playing time that is equal to the unexpired penalty time carried forward from the previous innings, subject to a maximum cumulative penalty time of 40 minutes. However, once his side has lost five wickets in its batting innings, he may bat immediately.

For the purposes of 2.2.1 and 2.2.2, playing time shall only comprise of the time that play is in progress.

The restrictions in Clauses 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 above shall not apply if the player has suffered an external blow (as opposed to an internal injury such as a pulled muscle) whilst participating earlier in the match and consequently been forced to leave the field. Nor shall it apply if the player has been absent for very exceptional and wholly acceptable reasons (other than injury or illness).

In the event of a batsman or a fieldsman already being off the field at the commencement of an interruption in play through ground, weather or light conditions or for other exceptional circumstances, he shall be allowed to count any such stoppage time as playing time, provided that he personally informs the umpires when he is fit enough to take the field had play been in progress.

Similarly, if at the commencement of an interruption in play through ground, weather or light conditions or for other exceptional circumstances, a player is on the field but still has some unexpired penalty time remaining from a previous absence, he shall automatically be allowed to count any such stoppage time as playing time provided he returns to the field of play immediately after the interruption.

2.2.3Substitute fielders shall only be permitted in cases of injury, illness or other wholly acceptable reasons. ‘Wholly acceptable reasons’ should be limited to extreme circumstances and should not include what is commonly referred to as a ‘comfort break’.

NOTE: Squad members of the fielding team who are not playing in the match and who are not acting as substitute fielders shall be required to wear a team training bib whilst on the playing area (including the area between the boundary and the perimeter fencing).