I just got sent a thing from our Sunday League committee, with a link to an MCC document 'Summary of changes to the Laws of Cricket 2017 Code'. So, it details the changes to the Laws, from Oct 2017. Law 5 (The Bat) has been amended, as we knew it would be, but there is nothing mentioned about lower league cricket, or how the law now applies to existing 'old' bats. So, can someone tell me clearly, does this change apply to us all now?
From the document:
LAW 5 – The bat & Appendix B (previously Law 6 & Appendix E)
It has been decided to limit the size of the edge of the bat and also its overall depth. Law 5 defines the permitted size of the bat, with the width and length unchanged, but with added restrictions on the thickness of the edges (40mm) and the overall depth (67mm). Appendix B defines the size and shape of the bat gauge, which umpires can use to check a bat’s legality. This gauge is fractionally larger than the permitted size of the bat, to allow for permitted covering, such as an anti-scuff front. The gauge allows for the traditional slightly curved face of a bat resulting from the pressing process.