MCC announces new edition of Laws from 1 October 2026

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has announced its new edition of the Laws of Cricket for 2026, which will come into force from 1 October.

This is the fourth edition of the 2017 Code of Laws. The second edition in 2019 was mostly clarification and minor amendments, but the 2022 edition made several significant changes. 

This new edition has been drafted by MCC with two main principles in mind – that the Laws are up to date and fit for the modern game, and that they are inclusive for all.

MCC is publishing the Law changes now to allow them to be digested and understood before they come into force in October. Indeed, some of the changes have already been adopted as Playing Conditions by ICC and other Governing Bodies.

MCC's Laws sub-committee is responsible for the debating, decision making and drafting of the Laws, which are then ratified by MCC's Cricket committee and Main Committee, retaining a robust and measured decision-making process.

There are 73 material changes to the Laws in all, as well as linguistic changes throughout. The full 2026 edition is available for download, while a document detailing all the material changes is also available on the MCC website.

The most substantial changes include the legalisation of laminated bats in open age cricket, rather than only in junior cricket, as part of an attempt to slow the rising costs of bats around the world. This is part of extensive research that MCC has carried out on this topic.

As well as bats, there are also amendments to balls, as the Club has worked with manufacturers of cricket balls to set new limits, and names, for balls in various forms of cricket. This has been led by an initiative first tabled by current and former women’s cricketers at World Cricket Connects.

A significant change impacting multi-day cricket will now see play continuing if a wicket falls when balls remain to be bowled in an over after the time for close of play, rather than stumps being drawn. It was felt unfair that the batting side does not have to send out a new batter until the next morning, so from October onwards, the final over of the day will be fully bowled.

This edition also sees the most significant overhaul to the overthrows Law for some time, which takes a complicated segment of Law and gives greater clarity, with definitions of an overthrow and a misfield.  

Fraser Stewart, MCC Laws Manager, said: “It is important that we announce these changes now as part of the Club’s global commitment to the game, giving officials from all over the world the chance to learn under the new Laws ahead of them coming into force in October.

“Cricket is a fast-evolving sport and this edition is drafted with the modern game in mind, as we are constantly looking to ensure that the Laws, which the Club has administered since being founded in 1787, are fit for all levels of cricket across the globe.

“The Laws sub-committee meets several times each year to shape the Laws and debate what changes are required to every area of the edition. The changes announced today represent the way the game continues to evolve.”

To download a document detailing the ten key changes, please click here.

The full document, which includes all 73 changes to the Laws, can be accessed here, and a document explaining each change is available here.

The full 2026 edition of the 2017 Code of Laws can be accessed here.

Read more on MCC Laws here.