MCC is issuing a short clarification because there has been some confusion, particularly online, relating to one of the Law changes that came into effect on October 1, and has been adopted into ICC’s Playing Conditions for international cricket. 

The new Law, which is covered in Appendix 2.7 and 2.8, says that, in order to fairly break the wicket, "The ball must be held with complete control in the fielder’s palm or fingers, or in the palm or fingers of a wicket-keeper’s glove."
 
Although this Law change has been public since February, when the Laws came into force last week a number of people appear to have misinterpreted it. There has been a suggestion that 'for all run outs, the fielder has to have complete control of the ball', which has led to questions about bowlers deflecting the ball onto the stumps, or it bouncing off a wicket-keeper's pads, or being kicked onto the stumps - and there's been some disquiet about a new Law saying you need complete control for any Run out.
 
Fortunately, that's not what the Law says, and that's not what you'll be seeing in cricket going forward in these new Laws and Playing Conditions. This Law applies to when a fielder is breaking the wicket with their hand or arm, while holding the ball. In that circumstance, they need to have the ball in their hand, and with complete control, to be able to break the wicket. The reason for the change is that improved TV coverage has highlighted that some batters were being given out when the fielder was in contact with the ball when breaking the wicket, but had little or no control of the ball. This is not the same as 'holding the ball', which is what the Law has always required. 
 
But a fielder can, of course, still break the wicket with the ball. If the ball hits the stumps and dislodges the bails, there is no question of control - the wicket is fairly broken. It is only if it's the fielder's person, not the ball, that makes contact with the wicket, that this new piece of Law becomes relevant.