The seamless proceeding of any sport requires the players and all those involved to follow a certain set of rules. The rules evolve with time, making the sport more advanced and just. Cricket, the age-old game, has similarly evolved over the years through the onset of technology and the transition in the rules that dictate the gentleman’s game. From basic rules defining the boundaries and run-scoring to the complex calculations of victory by the DLS method, cricket abides by plenty of regulations in order to ensure ‘fairness’ for every team and player involved. However, some of the rules meant to propagate the said fairness have picked resistance for one reason or another.

A look at some of the cricket rules criticized by one and many.

The “Mankad” Dismissal

The Mankad dismissal hogged the limelight after an Indian spinner used the rule to dismiss Jos Buttler in the Indian Premier League. Named after Indian cricketer Vinoo Mankad, this rule allows a bowler to run out a non-striker who backs up too far before the ball is bowled. The rule, as in the books, is a run-out method. Like any fielder including the wicket-keeper can run out a batter after the delivery, the Mankad allows the bowler to hit the stumps if he notices the non-striker leaving the crease before the ball is thrown. While entirely legal under the laws of cricket, the “Mankad” dismissal often stirs controversy. Critics argue that it breaches the spirit of the game, while those in favor of using one of the most discussed cricket rules believe it enforces discipline.

The DRS “Umpire’s Call”

The Decision Review System (DRS) was introduced to reduce umpiring errors, but its “Umpire’s Call” provision has been a source of great dissatisfaction. The entire point of including technology was to rule out any discrepancies or overlooks by the on-field umpire. However, the umpire’s call is often seen as an element that brings back the dismissal to zero despite the team losing one of their counted review chances. The umpire’s call rule maintains the on-field umpire’s decision in marginal cases, such as LBW appeals where less than 50% of the ball is shown to be hitting the stumps. Critics argue that it undermines the purpose of technology and leaves room for inconsistency.

The Overthrow Rule

The overthrow rule became a point of massive debate when England won the ICC ODI World Cup in 2019 against New Zealand. The thrilling match ended up in England's favor not by a clear factor but by the overthrow rule. England was awarded six runs when a throw from New Zealand’s Martin Guptill accidentally hit Ben Stokes’ bat and deflected to the boundary. The overthrow rule activating at such a crucial moment decided the fate of the most sought-after trophies in the sport. This cricket rule left not only the New Zealand fans but many all over the world chagrined. While it has been modulated now, the ICC ODI World Cup Final between England and New Zealand is still perceived as a blot on the fair play record.

The above-mentioned cricket rules are not the only ones to be criticized by the masses and the die-hard fans. Many more rules in the current times, like the soft signal regulation by the on-field umpire remain a point of contention. Most recently, the impact player rule, implied in the IPL following the BBL, divided the fans and the players for hindering the true values of the sport. While the point of all these cricket rules remains to make the game unbiased and fair, not all of them sit well with the teams involved and their respective fans.