In IPL 2025, you must’ve noticed an unusual activity carried out by on-field umpires during a live match. They checked the bats of players to confirm their legality.
Now, it’s not an unusual thing, though. The umpires used to check the bats before the game in the dressing room in previous seasons. But now they have started the checks on the field with the help of a bat gauge.
What is a bat gauge?
A bat gauge is special equipment used to check if the bats used by batters comply with the MCC’s laws. It’s a rectangular-shaped tool with a home-shaped cut-out in the middle.
The bat gauge is made as per the MCC’s laws around cricket bat dimensions. A bat complying with the permitted dimensions passes through the cut-out, which in turn gets a green signal for use in a match.
So, what are the dimensions of a cricket bat?
As per the laws, a cricket bat, from the top of the handle to the toe, can’t be longer than 96.52 cm (38 inches). The bat’s blade needs to be 10.8 cm (4.25 inches) in width, with a depth of 6.7 cm (2.64 inches) and edges of 4 cm (1.56 inches).
How do umpires use the bat gauge?
The umpires pass the bats through the cut-out to check if they comply with the set dimensions. If the bat, along with stickers or repair material, passes through the gauge, then it’s good to go.
If it doesn’t, then the batter can’t use the bat in the match. They will have to bring another bat, which will also go through the check.
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What happens if a bat doesn’t pass through the gauge? Are there any penalties?
Well, there are no harsh penalties as such, at least in the IPL. The batters will be simply asked to change the bat, which complies with the dimensions.
But the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has put in place sanctions in their domestic competitions. And Essex faced the heat after a player’s bat failed the gauge test in the 2024 County Championship game. As a result, the ECB deducted 12 points from their tally as a penalty.
The sanctions and penalties may vary from tournament to tournament or even by the national cricket boards.
But why are the regulations in place?
See, cricket isn’t just about batting or batters. There are bowlers involved in the game as well.
And to have a balance in matches, certain things need to be within set guidelines. Hence, the governing body has put in place the bat gauge test.
Through this rule, the governing bodies make sure batters don’t use oversized bats to tilt the scales in their favour. The batters can, obviously, gain an unfair advantage.
To stop the unfair practice, the MCC has listed out the permitted dimensions, which every batter must adhere to. This way, batters won’t have any unfair advantage over bowlers.
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