Why did ICC remove runner rule from international cricket?

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has, however, permanently prohibited the regulation that allows batsmen to have a runner since 2011. Someone like Rishabh Pant, who had to bat with a damaged toe but was unable to take many runs for obvious reasons, may have benefited greatly from this regulation if it had been in place today. During the 2023 World Cup, Glenn Maxwell endured severe discomfort while batting on one foot in a similar scenario.

In the past, wounded hitters were permitted to have a runner but were still permitted to continue hitting. For hitters who experienced pulls, stretches, and severe running discomfort for a variety of causes, this regulation was a big help. It was therefore a huge help to all of the cricket players and has occasionally prevented a team from winning a match that could have had a negative outcome.

Why are batters no longer permitted to run?

Following a lengthy discussion at its 2011 Annual General Meeting, the ICC decided to abolish the runner’s rule due to its numerous irregularities and the difficulty of on-field umpires determining whether the batter at the crease truly needed a runner or if the rule was being abused for unfair advantage.

“The cricket committee has given it some thought. and it’s been widely believed that runners weren’t handled with the proper attitude.

Then-ICC chief Haroon Lorgat stated in 2011, as cited by ESPN, “It’s pretty hard for umpires to tell whether there has been a real injury to batsmen or whether it was a tactical use of runners.”

“If a bowler gets injured you can’t continue bowling for the rest of the day and the feeling was that it would be better to not allow the use of runners because there has been abuse in the past,” Lorgat had gone on to explain.

In conclusion

Since the opposition captains had to be notified before requesting a runner, the governing board had to consider the rule. When Andrew Strauss, the captain of England at the time, denied South Africa batsman Graeme Smith a runner despite his cramping during the 2009 Champions Trophy match, it was a major obstacle to the seamless implementation of allowing a runner. According to the ICC, this was a major obstacle to playing cricket in its purest form, therefore players were forced to either leave the ground or bat on their own without any help.

In conclusion, it can be argued that the ICC took the correct decision in denying the hitters any unfair advantages and requiring bowlers to be removed from the game despite their ailments. As a result, the supreme cricket authority ended the rule, which teams and supporters had previously viewed as a general norm, while maintaining the principle of fair play.