ATHERTON's Paul Walsh became an early victim of the new cricket laws that were brought in this season.

Preparing to come on to bowl against St Anne's on Sunday he approached the wicket with ball in hand and delivered a practice ball to a fielder. He was immediately approached by Northern League Umpire Roy Booth who invoked the new regulation that states that there shall be no practice on the field of play between the call of play and the call of time (Law 17). Further to this rule is that any bowler doing so has then to wait until a further five complete overs have been bowled by his side. Walsh was not allowed to bowl.