adopted by Bermuda in time for the new season.

There was no mention of it in the one-day regulations drafted up by the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control for the 1999 season, but board president El James hasn't ruled it out for the season. He said it would be brought up at a meeting with the umpires last night.

"We will iron everything out,'' James promised.

"We have discussed it with them. We gave them a set of rules to consider and we'll get their views on it.'' The new law is designed to tighten up on no-balls and wides in the limited overs game by penalising the fielding side. Previously if a run was scored off the bat on a no-ball, then only that run would stand. Now a run will be awarded for the no ball and wide and any other runs scored will also be allowed to stand, along with the extra ball.

Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association secretary Randy Butler feels it may be too late to be implemented in the upcoming season.

"It's a bit late now with the games starting on Sunday, plus it has to be understood and put out to the scorers,'' he said.

Butler, who recently attended a seminar in Antigua hosted by the West Indies Cricket Board, insists it is not the place of the BCUA, nor their intention, to push forward the new laws.

"We don't want to be seen forcing these things on the board,'' he said.

It is expected that Bermuda will play under the new law when they host Canada and the United States this summer and again in the Red Stripe.

Meanwhile, indications are the BCUA will fall short of the 14 umpires they will need for Sunday's seven Premier Division matches.

The controversial run out of West Indies batsman Sherwin Campbell sparked debate locally as to whether Brendan Julian deliberately obstructed Campbell.

So how would Butler have called it? "It was a clear case of obstruction,'' Butler felt after watching the incident on TV.

"The umpire should have signalled dead ball and called his partner over. That may have quietened the crowd down.

"If Julian would have followed through to try to get the ball it would have been different, but he stopped. He never even turned around to say `sorry'.''