ONE new law that is causing discussion among players is any ball which does not pitch and passes above waist height of the batsman standing upright in the crease is a no ball regardless of the pace of the ball.

Last year the pace of the ball came into consideration as, if the ball was slow, it was only called no ball if it passed above shoulder height of the batsman standing upright in his crease. It was always a bone of contention if a fast bowler bowled a slow ball. Was that a no ball? Well now that is no longer relevant.

The umpire has to decide first if the ball would have passed above waist height. Where is your waist? It is not the position of the waist band of the trousers, it is actually just below your bottom rib.

The next consideration is the stance of the batsman.

Remember it is where his waist would be if standing upright at the crease, not crouched down in his batting stance.

Also an umpire must not call no ball too soon as I found out last week.

A ball seemingly heading for above waist height had me calling no ball only to see it drop all of a sudden at the last minute.

Once the bowler's end umpire has called no ball then he has to issue a first and final warning to the bowler.

This is also a change as last season you got a caution, followed by a final warning.

Now it is only one and if it happens again then the bowler is suspended from bowling again in the innings.

The over has to be completed by another bowler who is not going to bowl the next over.

The umpire at the striker's end (square leg) can help his colleague with a prearranged signal to show he thinks it is above waist height.

But he does not call no ball, and has not done for quite a few years, although some players think he has to.

The question arises in junior cricket where bowling is likely to be a bit more erratic.

The ECB have issued guidelines for under-13s and below who will revert back to last season's rules with a caution, final warning and then being withdrawn from the attack.

In the BCL all players in junior cricket will follow the old ruling but those juniors playing in senior cricket will have one warning and then would be withdrawn from the attack.