ICC Introduces New Rule For Caught-Behind Check During Stumping Referrals: Report

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has made several changes to playing conditions across formats, some of which are yet to be formally announced. One of the major changes introduced by the governing body is related to caught-behind appeal, according to reports.

The caught-behind appeal has long been an issue that players have exploited. As a result of the new rule, caught-behind appeals will not be checked by the third umpire when reviewing stumping referrals. According to a report in Cricbuzz, the new rule introduced by the ICC will make the umpires focus exclusively on side-on replays and they will no longer be required to assess the caught-behind scenario.

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ICC’s new rule for caught-behind appeals:

According to earlier protocols, the umpires had to check the caught-behind first before reviewing the stumping. The teams used to exploit the rule as they used the opportunity to secure a review for a caught-behind appeal, as a successful stumping appeal saved the fielding team from utilizing a review.

Australian team exploited it on several occasions during the four-match Test series in India last year. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey effected several stumpings and after he and his teammates appealed for stumping, the third-umpire had to check for caught-behind first.

“The change confines a stumping review to only check for stumped, therefore preventing the fielding team a free review for other modes of dismissal (i.e, caught behind) without choosing a player review,” a report in Cricbuzz stated.

The new rule came into force on December 12, 2023, and a formal announcement from the ICC is imminent. In addition to changing the rules for the caught-behind appeal, the ICC has also introduced a change to the concussion substitution rule as well.

“(It) provides clarity in the regulations to ensure that a replacement player will not be permitted to bowl if the replaced player was suspended from bowling at the time of their concussion,” the report stated.

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