Cricket is a bat and ball sport that sees the ones wielding the bat attempt to score runs off the bowler who is assisted by fielders in either dismissing the batter or restricting the flow of runs. Nine players from the fielding side (the other two being the bowler and wicketkeeper) are positioned to ensure a fair contest between the batters and bowlers. This phase-wise positioning of fielders are the field restrictions.
The 1932-33 Ashes series was a landmark fixture in cricket’s history. To stop the dominance of Australian cricket, the English team resorted to dangerous and unsporting measures. The English pace bowlers fired bouncers at a high pace that put the batter at a risk of injury. This was an era where helmets were not introduced. To defend themselves, batters were forced to duck and defend in an awkward position. This would result in the ball get deflected towards the leg side where the field setup was heavier. The batters were dismissed caught out.
These tactics were heavily criticised, forcing the Marylebone Cricket Club to amend the laws. It took over a decade for the MCC to lay down the new regulations. The new law then stated that the fielding side cannot keep more than two fielders behind square on the leg side.
When One Day International (ODI) cricket gained prominence in the 1980s, field restriction laws were made more clear in Australia. Gradual changes led to only two fielders being allowed outside the inner circle in the first 15 overs. These rules were implemented by 1992. The 15 over restriction was reduced to ten overs in 2005. These ten overs were divided as two five-over powerplays which the bowling side could take.
In 2008, the laws permitted the batting side to choose when they wished to take one of the two powerplays. They could take this powerplay between the 11th to 50th overs. Three years later, players could take the powerplay between the 16th and 40th overs.
A landmark overhaul in the powerplay rules came in 2012. The first powerplay was fixed for the first 10 overs. During this passage of play, no more than two players were placed outside the 30-yard circle. The batting side had to mandatorily take the second powerplay by the 40th over. During this phase, no more than three players were placed outside the 30-yard circle.
The latest revisions to the field restrictions law came in 2015. The number of fielders that could be placed outside the inner circle increased to five and the batting powerplay was entirely eliminated. In T20 cricket, the field restrictions are present only for the first six overs of the innings.
The fast-paced game has led to powerplay work in favor of the batters. An exponential rise in run scoring has made international cricket more thrilling for the viewers.
