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LAW 40 THE WICKET-KEEPER
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1. Protective equipment
2. Gloves
3. Position of wicket-keeper
(a) a ball delivered by the bowler
either (i)
touches the bat or person of the striker
or
(ii)
passes the wicket at the striker’s end
or (b) the
striker attempts a run.
In the event of the wicket-keeper contravening this Law, the umpire at the
striker’s end shall call and signal No ball as soon as possible after the
delivery of the ball.
4. Movement by wicket-keeper
5. Restriction on actions of wicket-keeper
6. Interference with wicket-keeper by striker
LAW 41 THE FIELDER
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1. Protective equipment
2. Fielding the ball
(a) the ball shall become dead and 5 penalty runs shall be awarded to the
batting side. See Law 42.17 (Penalty runs).
(b) the umpire shall inform the other umpire, the captain of the fielding side,
the batsmen and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what
has occurred.
(c) the umpires together shall report the occurrence as soon as possible to the
Executive of the fielding side and any Governing Body responsible for the match
who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and
player concerned.
3. Protective helmets belonging to the fielding side
4. Penalty runs not to be awarded
Neither (i)
attempted to play the ball with his bat,
nor
(ii)
tried to avoid being hit by the ball,
then no award of 5 penalty runs shall be made and no other runs or penalties
shall be credited to the batting side except the penalty for a No ball if
applicable. See Law 26.3 (Leg byes not to be awarded).
5. Limitation of on side fielders
At the instant of the bowler’s delivery there shall not be more than two
fielders, other than the wicket-keeper, behind the popping crease on the on
side. A fielder will be considered to be behind the popping crease unless the
whole of his person, whether grounded or in the air, is in front of this line.
In the event of infringement of this Law by the fielding side, the umpire at the
striker’s end shall call and signal No ball.
6. Fielders not to encroach on the pitch
7. Movement by fielders
8. Definition of significant movement
(a) For close fielders anything other than minor adjustments to stance or
position in relation to the striker is significant.
(b) In the outfield, fielders are permitted to move in towards the striker or
striker’s wicket, provided that 5 above is not contravened. Anything other than
slight movement off line or away from the striker is to be considered
significant.
(c) For restrictions on movement by the wicket-keeper see Law 40.4 (Movement by
wicket-keeper).
LAW 42 FAIR AND UNFAIR PLAY
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1. Fair and unfair play – responsibility of captains
2.
Fair and unfair play – responsibility of umpires
3. The match ball – changing its condition
(a) Any fielder may
(i)
polish the ball provided that no artificial substance is used and that
such polishing wastes
no time.
(ii)
remove mud from the ball under the supervision of the umpire.
(iii)
dry a wet ball on a towel.
(b) It is unfair for anyone to rub the ball on the ground for any reason,
interfere with any of the seams or the surface of the ball, use any implement,
or take any other action whatsoever which is likely to alter the condition of
the ball, except as permitted in (a) above.
(c) The umpires shall make frequent and irregular inspections of the ball.
(d) In the event of any fielder changing the condition of the ball unfairly, as
set out in (b) above, the umpires after consultation shall
(i)
change the ball forthwith. It shall be for the umpires to decide on the
replacement ball, which shall, in their opinion, have had wear comparable with
that which the previous ball had received immediately prior to the
contravention.
(ii)
inform the batsmen that the ball has been changed.
(iii)
award 5 penalty runs to the batting side. See 17 below.
(iv)
inform the captain of the fielding side that the reason for the action
was the unfair interference with the ball.
(v)
inform the captain of the batting side as soon as practicable of what has
occurred.
(vi)
report the occurrence as soon as possible to the Executive of the
fielding side and any Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall take
such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and team concerned.
(e) If there is any further instance of unfairly changing the condition of the
ball in that innings, the umpires after consultation shall
(i)
repeat the procedure in (d)(i), (ii) and (iii) above.
(ii)
inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for the action
taken and direct him to take off forthwith the bowler who delivered the
immediately preceding ball. The bowler thus taken off shall not be allowed to
bowl again in that innings.
(iii)
inform the captain of the batting side as soon as practicable of what has
occurred.
(iv)
report this further occurrence as soon as possible to the Executive of
the fielding side and any Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall
take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and team
concerned.
4. Deliberate attempt to distract striker
(a) If either umpire considers that any action by a member of the fielding side
is such an attempt, at the first instance he shall
(i)
immediately call and signal Dead ball.
(ii)
warn the captain of the fielding side that the action is unfair and
indicate that this is a first and final warning.
(iii)
inform the other umpire and the batsmen of what has occurred.
(b) If there is any further such deliberate attempt in that innings, by any
member of the fielding side, the procedures, other than warning, as set out in
(a) above shall apply. Additionally, the umpire at the bowler’s end shall
(i)
award 5 penalty runs to the batting side. See 17 below.
(ii)
inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for this action
and, as soon as practicable, inform the captain of the batting side.
(iii)
report the occurrence, together with the other umpire, as soon as
possible to the Executive of the fielding side and any Governing Body
responsible for the match, who shall take such action as is considered
appropriate against the captain and player or players concerned.
5. Deliberate distraction or obstruction of batsman
(a) It is for either one of the umpires to decide whether any distraction or
obstruction is wilful or not.
(b) If either umpire considers that a member of the fielding side has willfully
caused or attempted to cause such a distraction or obstruction he shall
(i)
immediately call and signal Dead ball.
(ii)
inform the captain of the fielding side and the other umpire of the
reason for the call.
Additionally,
(iii)
neither batsman shall be dismissed from that delivery.
(iv)
5 penalty runs shall be awarded to the batting side. See 17 below. In
this instance, the run in progress shall be scored, whether or not the batsmen
had crossed at the instant of the call. See Law 18.11 (Runs scored when ball
becomes dead).
(v)
the umpire at the bowler’s end shall inform the captain of the fielding
side of the reason for this action and, as soon as practicable, inform the
captain of the batting side.
(vi)
the umpires shall report the occurrence as soon as possible to the
Executive of the fielding side and any Governing Body responsible for
the match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the
captain and player or players concerned.
6. Dangerous and unfair bowling
(a) Bowling of fast short pitched balls
(i)
The bowling of fast short pitched balls is dangerous and unfair if the
umpire at the bowler’s end considers that by their repetition and taking into
account their length, height and direction they are likely to inflict physical
injury on the striker, irrespective of the protective equipment he may be
wearing. The relative skill of the striker shall be taken into consideration.
(ii)
Any delivery which, after pitching, passes or would have passed over head
height of the striker standing upright at the crease, although not threatening
physical injury, is unfair and shall be considered as part of the repetition
sequence in (i) above.
The umpire shall call and signal No ball for each such delivery.
(b) Bowling of high full pitched balls
(i)
Any delivery, other than a slow paced one, which passes or would have
passed on the full above waist height of the striker standing upright at the
crease is to be deemed dangerous and unfair, whether or not it is likely to
inflict physical injury on the striker.
(ii)
A slow delivery which passes or would have passed on the full above
shoulder height of the striker standing upright at the crease is to be deemed
dangerous and unfair, whether or not it is likely to inflict physical injury on
the striker.
7. Dangerous and unfair bowling – action by the umpire
(a) In the event of dangerous and/or unfair bowling, as defined in 6 above, by
any bowler, except as in 8 below, at the first instance the umpire at the
bowler’s end shall call and signal No ball and, when the ball is dead, caution
the bowler, inform the other umpire, the captain of the fielding side and the
batsmen of what has occurred. This caution shall continue to apply throughout
the innings.
(b) If there is a second instance of such dangerous and/or unfair bowling by the
same bowler in that innings, the umpire at the bowler’s end shall repeat the
above procedure and indicate to the bowler that this is a final warning.
Both the above caution and final warning shall continue to apply even though the
bowler may later change ends.
(c) Should there be a further instance by the same bowler in that innings, the
umpire shall
(i)
call and signal No ball.
(ii)
direct the captain, when the ball is dead, to take the bowler off
forthwith. The over shall be completed by another bowler, who shall neither have
bowled the previous over nor be allowed to bowl the next over.
The bowler thus taken off shall not be allowed to bowl again in that innings.
(iii)
report the occurrence to the other umpire, the batsmen and, as soon as
practicable, the captain of the batting side.
(iv)
report the occurrence, with the other umpire, as soon as possible to the
Executive of the fielding side and to any Governing Body responsible
for the match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against
the captain and bowler concerned.
8. Deliberate bowling of high full pitched balls
(a) call and signal No ball.
(b) direct the captain, when the ball is dead, to take the bowler off forthwith.
(c) implement the remainder of the procedure as laid down in 7(c) above.
9. Time wasting by the fielding side
It is unfair for any member of the fielding side to waste time.
(a) If the captain of the fielding side wastes time, or allows any member of his
side to waste time, or if the progress of an over is unnecessarily slow, at the
first instance the umpire shall call and signal Dead ball if necessary and
(i)
warn the captain, and indicate that this is a first and final warning.
(ii)
inform the other umpire and the batsmen of what has occurred.
(b) If there is any further waste of time in that innings, by any member of the
fielding side, the umpire shall
either (i)
if the waste of time is not during the course of an over, award 5 penalty
runs to the
batting side. See 17 below.
or
(ii)
if the waste of time is during the course of an over, when the ball is
dead, direct the
captain to take the bowler off forthwith.
If applicable, the over shall be completed by another bowler, who shall neither
have bowled the previous over nor be allowed to bowl the next over.
The bowler thus taken off shall not be allowed to bowl again in that innings.
(iii)
inform the other umpire, the batsmen and, as soon as practicable, the
captain of the batting side of what has occurred.
(iv)
report the occurrence, with the other umpire, as soon as possible to the
Executive of the fielding side and to any Governing Body responsible for the
match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the
captain and team concerned.
10. Batsman wasting time
(a) Should either batsman waste time by failing to meet this requirement, or in
any other way, the following procedure shall be adopted. At the first instance,
either before the bowler starts his run up or when the ball is dead, as
appropriate, the umpire shall
(i)
warn the batsman and indicate that this is a first and final warning.
This warning shall continue to apply throughout the innings. The umpire shall so
inform each incoming batsman.
(ii)
inform the other umpire, the other batsman and the captain of the
fielding side of what has occurred.
(iii)
inform the captain of the batting side as soon as practicable.
(b) if there is any further time wasting by any batsman in that innings, the
umpire shall, at the appropriate time while the ball is dead
(i)
award 5 penalty runs to the fielding side. See 17 below.
(ii)
inform the other umpire, the other batsman, the captain of the fielding
side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has
occurred.
(iii)
report the occurrence, with the other umpire, as soon as possible to the
Executive of the batting side and to any Governing Body responsible for the
match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the
captain and player or players and, if appropriate, the team concerned.
11. Damaging the pitch – area to be protected
(a) It is incumbent on all players to avoid unnecessary damage to the pitch. It
is unfair for any player to cause deliberate damage to the pitch.
(b) An area of the pitch, to be referred to as ‘the protected area’, is defined
as that area contained within a rectangle bounded at each end by imaginary lines
parallel to the popping creases and 5ft/1.52m in front of each and on the sides
by imaginary lines, one each side of the imaginary line joining the centres of
the two middle stumps, each parallel to it and 1ft/30.48cm from it.
12. Bowler running on the protected area after delivering
the ball
(a) If the bowler, after delivering the ball, runs on the protected area as
defined in 11(b) above, the umpire shall at the first instance, and when the
ball is dead,
(i)
caution the bowler. This caution shall continue to apply throughout the
innings.
(ii)
inform the other umpire, the captain of the fielding side and the batsmen
of what has occurred.
(b) If, in that innings, the same bowler runs on the protected area again after
delivering the ball, the umpire shall repeat the above procedure, indicating
that this is a final warning.
(c) If, in that innings, the same bowler runs on the protected area a third time
after delivering the ball, when the ball is dead the umpire shall
(i)
direct the captain of the fielding side to take the bowler off forthwith.
If applicable, the over shall be completed by another bowler, who shall neither
have bowled the previous over nor be allowed to bowl the next over. The bowler
thus taken off shall not be allowed to bowl again in that innings.
(ii)
inform the other umpire, the batsmen and, as soon as practicable, the
captain of the batting side of what has occurred.
(iii)
report the occurrence, with the other umpire, as soon as possible to the
Executive of the fielding side and to any Governing Body responsible for the
match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the
captain and bowler concerned.
13. Fielder damaging the pitch
(a) If any fielder causes avoidable damage to the pitch, other than as in 12(a)
above, at the first instance the umpire shall, when the ball is dead,
(i)
caution the captain of the fielding side, indicating that this is a first
and final warning. This caution shall continue to apply throughout the innings.
(ii)
inform the other umpire and the batsmen.
(b) If there is any further avoidable damage to the pitch by any fielder in that
innings, the umpire shall, when the ball is dead,
(i)
award 5 penalty runs to the batting side. See 17 below.
(ii)
inform the other umpire, the batsmen, the captain of the fielding side
and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has
occurred.
(iii)
report the occurrence, with the other umpire, as soon as possible to the
Executive of the fielding side and any Governing Body responsible for the match,
who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and
player or players concerned.
14. Batsman damaging the pitch
(a) If either batsman causes avoidable damage to the pitch, at the first
instance the umpire shall, when the ball is dead,
(i)
caution the batsman. This caution shall continue to apply throughout the
innings. The umpire shall so inform each incoming batsman.
(ii)
inform the other umpire, the other batsman, the captain of the fielding
side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side.
(b) If there is a second instance of avoidable damage to the pitch by any
batsman in that innings
(i)
the umpire shall repeat the above procedure, indicating that this is a
final warning.
(ii)
additionally he shall disallow all runs to the batting side from that
delivery other than the penalty for a No ball or a Wide, if applicable. The
batsmen shall return to their original ends.
(c) If there is any further avoidable damage to the pitch by any batsman in that
innings, the umpire shall, when the ball is dead,
(i)
disallow all runs to the batting side from that delivery other than the
penalty for a No ball or a Wide, if applicable.
(ii)
additionally award 5 penalty runs to the fielding side. See 17 below.
(iii)
inform the other umpire, the other batsman, the captain of the fielding
side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has
occurred.
(iv)
report the occurrence, with the other umpire, as soon as possible to the
Executive of the batting side and any Governing Body responsible for the match,
who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and
player or players concerned.
15. Bowler attempting to run out non-striker before
delivery
the attempt to run out the non-striker.
16. Batsmen stealing a run
It is unfair for the batsmen to attempt to steal a run during the bowler’s run
up. Unless the bowler attempts to run out either batsman – see 15 above and Law
24.4 (Bowler throwing towards striker’s end before delivery) – the umpire shall
(i)
call and signal Dead ball as soon as the batsmen cross in any such
attempt.
(ii)
return the batsmen to their original ends.
(iii)
award 5 penalty runs to the fielding side. See 17 below.
(iv)
inform the other umpire, the batsmen, the captain of the fielding side
and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of the reason for
the action taken.
(v)
report the occurrence, with the other umpire, as soon as possible to the
Executive of the batting side and any Governing Body responsible for the match,
who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and
player or players concerned.
17. Penalty runs
(a) When penalty runs are awarded to either side, when the ball is dead the
umpire shall signal the penalty runs to the scorers as laid down in Law 3.14
(Signals).
(b) Notwithstanding any provisions elsewhere in the Laws, penalty runs shall not
be awarded once the match is concluded as defined in Law 16.9 (Conclusion of a
match).
(c) When 5 penalty runs are awarded to the batting side, under either Law 2.6
(Player returning without permission) or Law 41 (The fielder) or under 3, 4, 5,
9 or 13 above, then
(i)
they shall be scored as penalty extras and shall be in addition to any
other penalties.
(ii)
they shall not be regarded as runs scored from either the immediately
preceding delivery or the following delivery, and shall be in addition to any
runs from those deliveries.
(iii)
the batsmen shall not change ends solely by reason of the 5 run penalty.
(d) When 5 penalty runs are awarded to the fielding side, under Law 18.5(b)
(Deliberate short runs), or under 10, 14 or 16 above, they shall be added as
penalty extras to that side’s total of runs in its most recently completed
innings. If the fielding side has not completed an innings, the 5 penalty extras
shall be added to its next innings.
18. Players’ conduct
The umpires together shall
(i)
inform the player’s captain of the occurrence, instructing the latter to
take action.
(ii)
warn him of the gravity of the offence, and tell him that it will be
reported to higher authority.
(iii)
report the occurrence as soon as possible to the Executive of the
player’s team and any Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall take
such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and player or
players, and, if appropriate, the team concerned.
DEFINED
IN THE TEXT
The Toss
is the toss for choice of innings.
Before the toss
is at any time before the toss on the day the match is expected to start or, in
the case of a
one day match, on the day that match is due to take place.
Before the match
is at any time before the toss, not restricted to the day on which the toss is
to take place.
During the match
is at any time after the toss until the conclusion of the match, whether play is
in
progress or not.
Implements of the game
are the bat, the ball, the stumps and bails.
The field of play
is the area contained within the boundary edge.
The square
is a specially prepared area of the field of play within which the match pitch
is situated.
Inside edge
is the edge on the same side as the nearer wicket.
Behind
in relation to stumps and creases, is on the side further from the stumps and
creases at the other
end of the pitch. Conversely, in front of is
on the side nearer to the stumps and creases at the other end
of the pitch.
A batsman’s ground
– at each end of the pitch, the whole area of the field of play behind the
popping
crease is the ground at that end for a batsman.
In front of the line of the striker’s wicket
is in the area of the field of play in front of the imaginary line
joining the fronts of the stumps at one end; this line to be considered extended
in both directions to the boundary.
Behind the wicket
is in the area of the field of play behind the imaginary line joining the backs
of the stumps at
one end; this line to be considered extended in both directions to the boundary.
Behind the wicket-keeper
is behind the wicket at the striker’s end, as defined above, but in line with
both sets
of stumps, and further from the stumps than the wicket-keeper.
Off side/on side – see diagram below
Umpire
– where the word ‘umpire’ is used on its own, it always means ‘the umpire at the
bowler’s
end’, though this full description is sometimes used for emphasis or clarity.
Otherwise, the phrases the umpire concerned, the
umpire at the striker’s end, either umpire
indicate
which umpire is intended.
Umpires together agree
applies to decisions which the umpires are to make jointly, independently of the
players.
Fielder
is any one of those 11 or fewer players currently on the field of play who
together compose the fielding
side. This definition includes not only both the bowler and the wicket-keeper
but also any legitimate substitute
fielding instead of a nominated player. It excludes any nominated player absent
from the field of play, or who
has been absent from the field of play and who has not obtained the umpire’s
permission to return. A player
going briefly outside the boundary in the course of discharging his duties as a
fielder is not absent from the field
of play nor, for the purposes of Law 2.5 (Fielder absent or leaving the field),
is he to be regarded as having left
the field of play.
Delivery swing
is the motion of the bowler’s arm during which normally he releases the ball for
a delivery.
Delivery stride
is the stride during which the delivery swing is made, whether the ball is
released or not. It
starts when the bowler’s back foot lands for that stride and ends when the front
foot lands in the same stride.
The ball is struck/strikes
the ball unless specifically defined otherwise, mean ‘the ball is
struck by the
bat’/’strikes the ball with the bat’.
Rebounds directly/strikes
directly and similar phrases mean without contact with any fielder
but do not
exclude contact with the ground.
External protective equipment
is any visible item of apparel worn for protection against external blows.
For a batsman, items permitted are a helmet, external leg guards (batting pads),
batting gloves and, if visible,
fore-arm guards. For a fielder, only a helmet is permitted, except in the case
of a wicket-keeper, for whom
wicket-keeping pads and gloves are also permitted.
Clothing
– anything that a player is wearing that is not classed as external protective
equipment, including
such items as spectacles or jewellery, is classed as clothing, even though he
may be wearing some items of
apparel, which are not visible, for protection. A bat being carried by a batsman
does not come within this
definition of clothing.
The bat
– the following are to be considered as part of the bat
- the whole of the bat itself.
- the whole of a glove (or gloves) worn on a hand (or hands) holding the bat.
- the hand (or hands) holding the bat, if the batsman is not wearing a glove on
that hand or on
those hands.
Equipment
– a batsman’s equipment is his bat, as defined above, together with any external
protective
equipment that he is wearing.
A fielder’s equipment is any external protective equipment that he is wearing.
Person
– a player’s person is his physical person (flesh and blood) together with any
clothing or legitimate
external protective equipment that he is wearing except, in the case of a
batsman, his bat.
A hand, whether gloved or not, that is not holding the bat is part of the
batsman’s person.
