May 07, 2008	Wednesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1, 1429

LONDON, May 6: The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is keen to restore the balance between bat and ball by amending Law 6, one that relates to the fabrication of bats.

John Stephenson, the head of the MCC Laws Committee, will present a paper to revise the law on Wednesday.

“We are concerned at the moment about the balance of the game between bat and ball,” Stephenson said.

“Kookaburra produced a bat with graphite binding on it [the one used by Ricky Ponting in 2006], which we said did not conform to the laws of the game. That caused a little bit of a difficulty for us.

“It meant that we had to redefine or rewrite the law. We thought we had got there last year, but Gray Nicolls came up with a bat handle with composite materials like graphite and titanium.

“So we decided to redefine the handle in terms of rubber, cane and glue. It’s the first time that the bat handle will be defined in the laws of cricket.”

No comprehensive research has proved the effect of graphite or titanium bats on the power imparted to shots but Stephenson said the move was being undertaken to prevent the enormous influence superior technology could have on bats.

“We have engaged scientists to look at the impact,” he stated. “The use of composite materials could already have had an impact and it could have an impact in future too.

“It’s a thin end of the wedge. If we allow technology to develop, it might shift the balance down the line. We want to shore it up now so that we do not have to retrace our steps. It will also give something back to the bowlers,” he added.

Stephenson, who played only one Test for England in 1989, said all bat manufacturers had been explained about the situation at regular intervals.

“The MCC and bat manufacturers have agreed to an amicable phasing out of bats,” he revealed.

“There are different time frames fixed for phasing out, so that manufacturers do not lose financially. From a certain period, the bats cannot be used, from a certain period of time, the bats cannot be sold.

“Amateur cricketers can use the bats till the natural life period. However, after September, it cannot be used in international cricket. —Agencies