WHAT a disappointment Saturday became as upon arriving at my match, puddles of water were very much in evidence and venturing onto the outfield it soon became apparent the chances of play were pretty slim as water squelched over my shoes.

After moving the covers, water had seeped under them and in spite of the sun coming out it was agreed the game should be called off – a scene that met many umpires this weekend.

Let’s hope this Saturday the weather for the final set of league matches for the season proves to be fine.

After last week’s match, I was asked about some more of the new laws, especially in regard to a batsman backing up and leaving his ground before the bowler delivers the ball.

The general consensus of opinion was that the bowler had to warn the batsman first.

This is not in the laws and never has been, but it has always been thought as a gentleman’s agreement to warn someone first.

What the new law has done is extend the point at which the run-out of the non-striker can be attempted, to the instant at which the bowler would be expected to deliver the ball.

This, along with the new law title of “non-striker leaving his/her ground too early” is meant to have the effect of keeping the non-striker in his/her ground for longer.

It is often the bowler who is criticised for attempting such a run-out but it is the batsman who is attempting to gain an advantage.

The message to the non-striker is very clear – if you do not want to risk being run-out, stay within your ground until the bowler has released the ball.

It has often been felt a runner for an injured batsman seems to get away with leaving his crease too early and now there is a new law covering that too.

He is to have some part of his person or bat behind the popping crease until the ball reaches the striker or passes the popping crease, whichever is the sooner.

If the striker's end umpire thinks the runner fails to comply with this restriction then he can call and signal dead ball as soon as the ball reaches the boundary or after the completion of their first run.

However the umpire can delay the call of dead ball if it looks like a catch is going to be made.

The bowler's end umpire will disallow all runs and send any not out batsmen back to their original ends.

The umpires are certainly going to be busy in getting ready for next season in learning all the changes.