Umpires to be allowed to send players off under new ECB disciplinary measures
Wednesday 21 March 2018 15:03, UK
Umpires will be permitted to remove players from the field of play under new disciplinary measures introduced by the ECB.
Players deemed to have committed a level three of level four offence will now be removed from the pitch - either temporarily or for the rest of the match - with five penalty runs also being added.
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The new disciplinary measures are in addition to the existing demerit points system, meaning players committing level three or four offences will still receive six and nine demerit points, respectively.
Level three offences include intimidating an umpire or threatening a player, while level four offences include threatening or making contact with an umpire and assaulting a player.
In addition to the new player conduct rules, the ECB will also allow teams to replace players during a game who are suffering - or suspected to be suffering - with concussion.
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The new player will be allowed to bat and bowl, but must be deemed to be a "like-for-like" replacement by the umpires or liaison officer.
Further changes to the ECB's rules include limiting bats to a thickness of 40mm and a depth of 67mm, as well as punishing players guilty of "mock fielding" - a fielder attempting to deceive a batsman - with five penalty runs.
