Changes to the Mercantile Mutual Cup playing conditions for the 1997-98 season:

Boundaries - Boundaries shall be reduced in size to provide an equalisation of playing areas.

Field restrictions -Between overs 16 and 30 of the innings, only three fieldsmen are permitted to be outside the field restriction area at the instant of delivery. It was retained that between overs 1 and 15 of the innings, only two fieldsmen are permitted outside the field restriction area. From over number 31 to the end of the innings, a maximum of five fieldsmen are permitted outside of the restriction area.

Size of team - A team will consist of 12 players. Only 11 players will be allowed to bat with the player not to bat to be nominated at the toss of the coin. Only 11 players are allowed on the field at any one time.