MUMBAI - If the International Cricket Council's (ICC) cricket committee's proposal to do away with the runners is accepted by the Board members, the game would not see the substitute player running between the wickets for the injured or ill batsmen.
The MCC's Law 2 (a) (1 & 7) on Runners states:
If the umpires are satisfied that a nominated player has been injured or become ill since the nomination of the players, they shall allow that player to have a runner when batting.
The player acting as a runner for a batsman shall be a member of the batting side and shall, if possible, have already batted in that innings. The runner shall wear external protective equipment equivalent to that worn by the batsman for whom he runs and shall carry a bat.
An interesting incident involving one of the Waugh twins, acting as a runner for his brother, has been narrated by cricket's Australian historian, Kersi Meher-Homji.
"In the 1994-95 Melbourne Test against England, Steve Waugh was in his 90s when joined by no. 11 batsman, Craig McDermott (just now appointed Australia's bowling coach).”In that Test McDermott was hampered by an inflamed back. As he could not run he used Mark Waugh as the runner. Imagine the scenario. Steve on 99 not out, his twin brother at the other end as a runner, both the twins were nervous. To break the suspense and help him reach his century, Mark attempted a rash single and got run out through a sharp throw from Graham Gooch. Steve was stranded on 99 not out. If looks can kill!” Kersi Meher Homji recalls.
"Steve recovered his composure to score 80 in the second innings and added 203 runs with Greg Blewett.
