Under law

The Marylebone Cricket Club: The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is set to amend the Laws of Cricket by allowing a wider range of bats, a move aimed at easing the financial burden on amateur players as the cost of traditional English willow continues to rise.

As part of a new edition of the Laws, due to take effect on October 1 2026, the MCC has introduced an amendment to Law 5.8, titled Categories of bat. The change is one of 73 revisions announced by the game’s lawmakers and will permit the use of laminated bats, known as Type D bats, in open-age recreational cricket for the first time.

Until now, Type D bats, which are constructed from up to three pieces of wood, have been restricted to junior cricket. Under the revised Laws, they will be permitted more broadly to address the rising global cost of bats.