MCC makes changes to Laws of the Game

On Sep 22, 2021

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) have approved an amendment to the game’s laws to use the gender-neutral term ‘batter’ instead of ‘batsman’.

The MCC, which is recognised as the sole authority on cricket’s laws since its foundation in 1787, said the changes will take immediate effect.

Jamie Cox, the MCC’s Assistant Secretary for cricket and operations, said: “MCC believes in cricket being a game for all and this move recognises the changing landscape of the game in modern times.”

Women’s cricket has enjoyed unprecedented growth at all levels around the world in recent years.

England’s victory over India in the 2017 World Cup final took place in front of a capacity crowd at Lord’s, which is the traditional home of the MCC.

And in March 2020, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the T20 World Cup final between Australia and India in Melbourne attracted 86,174 fans.

The record for a domestic women’s match was broken this summer, when 17,116 watched Oval Invincibles defeat Southern Brave in the final of The Hundred. (BBC)