Cricket Bat Rule Change: Now you can play cricket with the bats which were banned, MCC made a big change

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Mcc Cricket Law Change Laminated Bat Use GettyImage Credit source: Faisal Bashir/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

There is going to be a big change in the laws of international cricket. The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the law-maker and guardian of world cricket, announced several changes on Tuesday 3 February. In this, a big and important decision has been taken regarding bats. Till now the bats which were considered illegal in cricket and their use was prohibited, can now be used. MCC has announced that ‘Type D’ bat i.e. laminated bat can be used in lower level cricket matches. These changes will come into effect from 1 October 2026.

Who can use it?

A total of 73 changes related to different laws of cricket were announced by MCC on Tuesday, which will be applicable to all levels of cricket at the end of this year. In this, the changes made regarding bats attracted special attention. For quite some time now, there has been constant concern over the rising price of English willow bats, due to which they are becoming out of the reach of small-scale players. Keeping this in mind, MCC has allowed the use of ‘Type D’ bats, which till now could be used only in junior cricket (Under-13).

Till now the use of Type-D was allowed only in junior cricket but now it has been approved for all ages at the lower level. The cricket board of each country will decide at what level this bat can be used. However, only Type A bats will still be used in international and first class cricket (Senior List A, T20). This change will come into effect from October 1, 2026.

What is Type D bat?

But what is this Type D bat? Actually, in the laws of cricket, bats are divided into four categories – Type A, Type B, Type C and Type D. Actually, Type A bat can be used at every level of cricket and is played only with it in international cricket. This Type A bat is made from a single piece (English willow). In this, except for the handle, no other wood can be used in the blade. Some other wood may also be used in the bottom and sides of Type B and Type C bats.

But Type D bats can be made from different types of willow. The front part is made of English willow, but the back side is made of cheaper and lower quality willow, such as Kashmir willow. It is made from 3 separate pieces and then laminated. This reduces the cost of the bat considerably.

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