Association of Cricket Officials Issue 28 | Page 5

2017 Membership Thank you to all members who have renewed their membership for 2017. If you haven’t done so yet, it is not too late! You will have received a renewal notice with this magazine. We can renew all categories of membership by debit/credit card over the phone [phone]). Alternatively, you can send a cheque for the appropriate amount to the Membership Services Office at Edgbaston – the address is on the inside front cover. The requirements and amount per membership type are listed below: Full Membership You must have a current DBS (was CRB) certificate. The cost of membership is £32. EU Membership (including Ireland and Scotland) You do not need a current DBS certificate. The cost of membership is £32. Young Officials’ Membership (25 and under) You must have a current DBS certificate if aged 16–25. You do not need a current DBS certificate if under 16. The cost of membership is £17. Associate Membership You do not need a current DBS certificate. The cost of membership is £17. Overseas Membership (outside of EU) You do not need a current DBS certificate. The cost of membership is £17. No DBS certificate, but need one? Please contact GB Group on 0845 251 3000 and ask for an application pack. If you do not renew your membership you will NOT be covered by insurance and will no longer receive copies of the ECB ACO magazine. 2018 Code of Law Changes The MCC has approved a new Code of Laws that will come into play from 1 October 2017. The first of its kind issued since 2000, the Code will therefore take effect here in the 2018 season (unless you are lucky enough to find some cricket in the winter sun). The following changes have been approved by the MCC: • Four levels of umpire sanctions will now be available to officials to deal with on-field dissent. • Batsmen who ground their bat only for it to ‘bounce up’ will no longer be given out. • However, the bowler will be able to run out the non-striker from the moment the ball comes into play, providing clarity to this previously grey area. • ‘Handling the ball’ and ‘Obstructing the field’ are to be merged into one, reducing the total number of ways to be dismissed from 10 to nine. • At the professional level, bat size will be limited (with a moratorium period allowed for the amateur game). • The new Code will also replace references to ‘he’ to now read ‘he/she’, but will keep the term batsman. We will be providing a more detailed insight into the new changes and how this will affect you in the next issue in time for the 2018 season. For more information see the MCC website. Comments and letters welcome as always. email us at [email protected] contact us on 0121 446 2710 5