Laws of Cricket
>> Thursday, January 21, 2010
Introduction
MCC has been the custodian of the Laws of Cricket since the Club's formation in 1787.
The 2000 Code 3rd Edition - 2008 (displayed on this website) is the most up to date version, for use in all competitions. A revision to Law 6 was approved by MCC’s members and became Law on 1 October 2008.
The changes are a new version of Law 6 and a newly created Appendix E. Both of these relate to the bat and can be seen here:
MCC have also provided guides to new law 6 for manufacturers, retailers, umpires and players.
Spirit of Cricket
Since the introduction of the 2000 Code, the Spirit of Cricket Preamble has been an important feature, providing the context in which the game is intended to be played.
MCC’s Open Learning Manual is a comprehensive guide for umpires and students of the Laws who want to gain a better understanding of the Laws and their application.
The players, umpires and scorers in a game of cricket may be of either gender and the Laws apply equally to both. The use, throughout the text, of pronouns indicating the male gender is purely for brevity. Except where specifically stated otherwise, every provision of the Laws is to be read as applying to women and girls equally as to men and boys.
Preface
These Codes have been subject to additions and alterations recommended by the governing authorities of the time.
Since its formation in 1787, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has been recognised as the sole authority for drawing up the Code and for all subsequent amendments. The Club also holds the World copyright.
The basic Laws of Cricket have stood remarkably well the test of well over 250 years of playing the game. It is thought the real reason for this is that cricketers have traditionally been prepared to play in the Spirit of the Game as well as in accordance with the Laws.
In 2000, MCC revised and re-wrote the Laws for the new Millennium. In this Code, the major innovation was the introduction of the Spirit of Cricket as a Preamble to the Laws.
Whereas in the past it was assumed that the implicit Spirit of the Game was understood and accepted by all those involved, MCC felt it right to put into words some clear guidelines, which help to maintain the unique character and enjoyment of the game.
The other aims were to dispense with the Notes, to incorporate all the points into the Laws and to remove, where possible, any ambiguities, so that captains, players and umpires could continue to enjoy the game at whatever level they might be playing.
MCC consulted widely with all the Full Member Countries of the International Cricket Council, the Governing Body of the game. There was close consultation with the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers. The Club also brought in umpires and players from all round the world.
This latest version, The Laws of Cricket (2000 Code 3rd Edition - 2008) includes several necessary amendments arising from experience and practical application of the Code around the world since October, 2000.
Significant dates in the history of the Laws are as follows:
- 1700: Cricket was recognised as early as this date.
- 1744: The earliest known Code was drawn up by certain "Noblemen and Gentlemen" who used the Artillery Ground in London.
- 1755: The Laws were revised by "Several Cricket Clubs, particularly the Star and Garter in Pall Mall".
- 1774: A further revision was produced by "a Committee of Noblemen and Gentlemen of Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and London at the Star and Garter".
- 1786: A further revision was undertaken by a similar body of Noblemen and Gentlemen of Kent, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex and London.
- 1788: The first MCC Code of Laws was adopted on 30th May.
- 1835: A new Code of Laws was approved by the MCC Committee on 19th May.
- 1884: After consultation with cricket clubs worldwide, important alterations were incorporated in a new version approved at an MCC Special General Meeting on 21st April.
- 1947: A new Code of Laws was approved at an MCC Special General Meeting on 7th May. The main changes were aimed at achieving clarification and better arrangement of the Laws and their interpretations. This did not, however, exclude certain definite alterations which were designed to provide greater latitude in the conduct of the game as required by the widely differing conditions in which Cricket was played.
- 1979: After five editions of the 1947 Code, a further revision was begun in 1974 with the aim being to remove certain anomalies, consolidate various Amendments and Notes, and to achieve greater clarity and simplicity. The new Code of Laws was approved at an MCC Special General Meeting on 21st November.
- 1992: A second edition of the 1980 Code was produced, incorporating all the amendments which were approved during the intervening twelve years.
- 2000: A new Code of Laws, including a Preamble defining the Spirit of Cricket was approved on 3rd May, 2000.
Many queries on the Laws, which apply equally to women's cricket as to men's, are sent to MCC for decision every year. MCC, as the accepted Guardian of the Laws, which can only be changed by the vote of two-thirds of the Members at a Special General Meeting of the Club, has always been prepared to answer the queries and to give interpretations on certain conditions, which will be readily understood.
(a) In the case of league or competition cricket, the enquiry must come from the committee responsible for organising the league or competition. In other cases, enquiries should be initiated by a representative officer of a club, or of an umpires' association on behalf of his or her committee, or by a master or mistress in charge of school cricket.
(b) The incident on which a ruling is required must not be merely invented for disputation but must have actually occurred in play.
(c) The enquiry must not be connected in any way with a bet or wager.
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2.6 Player returning without permission and coming into contact with the ball - 5 penalty runs + report
41.2 Fielding the ball - 5 penalty runs + report
41.3 Helmet on the ground - 5 penalty runs (no report)
42.3 The match ball – changing its condition - consult + change the ball + 5 penalty runs + report
Any repetition during innings - consult + change the ball + 5 penalty runs + suspend a bowler + report
42.5 Deliberate distraction or obstruction of batsman (after a delivery) - either umpire - no dismissal + 5 penalty runs + run in progress to count + report
42.16 Batsmen stealing a run - 5 penalty runs + report
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ONE WARNING (* warning applies for whole innings)
18.5 Deliberate short runs – either umpire - no runs to count
Any repetition by same batsman - no runs to count + 5 penalty runs + report
42.4 Deliberate attempt to distract striker preparing to receive or receiving a delivery - * warn captain + no dismissal + ball not to count as one of the over
Any repetition during innings - 5 penalty runs + no dismissal + ball not to count as one of the over + report
42.9 Time wasting by the fielding side - * warn captain
Any repetition during innings - (a) if not during an over – 5 penalty runs + report
(b) if during an over – suspend the bowler + report 42.10 Batsman wasting time - *warn the batsman (is a warning for the whole side for the rest of the innings)
Repetition by any batsman in that innings - 5 penalty runs + report 42.13 Fielder damaging the pitch - * warn captain
Any repetition during innings - 5 penalty runs + report
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TWO WARNINGS (* warning applies for whole innings)
42.14 Batsman damaging the pitch - * warn the batsman (a first warning for the whole side for the rest of the innings)
Repetition by any batsman in that innings - * warn the batsman (the final warning for the whole side for the rest of the innings) + no runs to count
Repetition by any batsman in that innings - no runs to count + 5 penalty runs + report
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1. There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team's conduct firmly on the captain.
Responsibility of captains
The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.
Player's conduct
In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decisions of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player's captain, and instruct the latter to take action.
2. Fair and unfair play
According to the Laws the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play.
The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.
3. The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:
- Time wasting
- Damaging the pitch
- Dangerous or unfair bowling
- Tampering with the ball
- Any other action that they consider to be unfair
4. The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:
- Your opponents
- Your own captain and team
- The role of the umpires
- The game's traditional values
5. It is against the Spirit of the Game:
a) to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out
b) to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing
c) to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one's own side
6. Violence
There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.
7. Players
Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this.
The players, umpires and scorers in a game of cricket may be of either gender and the Laws apply equally to both. The use, throughout the text, of pronouns indicating the male gender is purely for brevity. Except where specifically stated otherwise, every provision of the Laws is to be read as applying to women and girls equally as to men and boys.
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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.
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.
No item of clothing or equipment is part of the player's person unless it is attached to him.
For a batsman, a glove being held but not worn is part of his person.
For a fielder, an item of clothing or equipment he is holding in his hand or hands is not part of his person.
Laws 7 (The Pitch) and 9 (The bowling, popping and return creases)
SOURCE :- www.cric8.com
RELATIVE PAGE LINK LAW-PAGE-1
- LAWS OF CRICKET-PAGE-2
- LAWS OF CRICKET-PAGE-3
- LAWS OF CRICKET-PAGE-4
- SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO LAW IN 2000 CODE
- RULES OF CRICKET
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