LAW 42             FAIR AND UNFAIR PLAY

 

1. Fair and unfair play – responsibility of captains

2. Fair and unfair play – responsibility of umpires

3. The match ball – changing its condition

4. Deliberate attempt to distract striker

5. Deliberate distraction or obstruction of batsman

6. Dangerous and unfair bowling

7. Dangerous and unfair bowling – action by the umpire

8. Deliberate bowling of high full pitched balls

9. Time wasting by the fielding side

10. Batsman wasting time

11. Damaging the pitch – area to be protected

12. Bowler running on the protected area after delivering the ball

13. Fielder damaging the pitch

14. Batsman damaging the pitch

15. Bowler attempting to run out non-striker before delivery

16. Batsmen stealing a run

17. Penalty runs

18. Players’ conduct

 

 

 

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1. Fair and unfair play – responsibility of captains

The responsibility lies with the captains for ensuring that play is conducted within

the spirit and traditions of the game, as described in The Preamble – The Spirit of

Cricket, as well as within the Laws.

The umpires shall be the sole judges of fair and unfair play. If either umpire

considers an action, not covered by the Laws, to be unfair, he shall intervene

without appeal and, if the ball is in play, shall call and signal Dead ball and

implement the procedure as set out in 18 below. Otherwise the umpires shall not

interfere with the progress of play, except as required to do so by the Laws.

(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.

It is unfair for any member of the fielding side deliberately to attempt to distract

the striker while he is preparing to receive or receiving a delivery.

(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.

Neither batsman shall be dismissed from that delivery and the ball shall not count

as one of the over.

(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.

In addition to 4 above, it is unfair for any member of the fielding side, by word or

action, wilfully to attempt to distract or to obstruct either batsman after the striker

has received the ball.

(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 wilfully

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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

If the umpire considers that a high full pitch which is deemed to be dangerous and

unfair, as defined in 6(b) above, was deliberately bowled, then the caution and

warning prescribed in 7 above shall be dispensed with. The umpire shall

(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.

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.

It is unfair for a batsman to waste time. In normal circumstances the striker

should always be ready to take strike when the bowler is ready to start his run up.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

The bowler is permitted, before entering his delivery stride, to attempt to run out

the non-striker. The ball shall not count in the over.

The umpire shall call and signal Dead ball as soon as possible if the bowler fails in

the attempt to run out the non-striker.

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.

(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.

If there is any breach of the Spirit of the Game by a player failing to comply with

the instructions of an umpire, or criticising his decisions by word or action, or

showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game

into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall immediately report the matter to the

other umpire.

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.