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Cricket rule adjustments urged by Steve Smith to address persistent leg-side bouncers

Smith stressed that an excess of leg-side bouncers limits a batsman's scoring options and advocated for rule alterations in this regard.

By Omar | Feb 29, 2024 | 2 Min Read

Former Australian skipper Steve Smith has urged for rule adjustments in response to the recurrent use of leg-side bouncers by fast bowlers, contending that such deliveries constrain a batsman’s capacity to execute shots “anywhere in front of the wicket.” Smith, presently engaged in the ongoing Test against New Zealand, recommended restricting bowlers to one or two leg-side bouncers, subsequently enforcing a warning or wide.

He drew a parallel with left-arm spinners, proposing a comparable ruling for consistent leg-side deliveries. Smith stressed that an excess of leg-side bouncers limits a batsman’s scoring options and advocated for rule alterations in this regard. The cricketer also recognized the challenge posed by precise bowlers like Neil Wagner, who recently retired from Test cricket, applauding Wagner’s adeptness in consistently delivering balls between throat and chest height as a valuable skill.

“I think there could be some slight rule changes in terms of balls going down the leg side when you set that field.

“You really can’t hit the ball anywhere in front of the wicket really, and I feel like it is almost like when a (left-arm) spinner comes over the wicket and they get the warning down the leg side and then they start getting ‘wided’,” Smith was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.

“If you’re bowling balls consistently in that area down leg, it should be a similar ruling to the spinner if that makes sense. Basically, bowl one or two, then get a warning and then get wides called,” he added.

“To have those catchers (fielders) there in position, it can be challenging for sure. The only thing I’d like to see is if you get too much down leg, you can’t really score anywhere else, and all the fielders are there. That would be the only change I wouldn’t mind seeing,” added Smith.

“Ultimately it is a good skill what Neil’s been able to do, the way he can get the ball between throat and chest height consistently, not bowl his two (bouncers) for the over and just carry on doing it,” Smith said.

“It’s a good skill and it can be challenging, particularly for guys that are pullers of the ball.”