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Law 42 Fair and unfair
play
LAW 42 FAIR AND UNFAIR PLAY
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.
2. Fair and unfair
play – responsibility of umpires
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.
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
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.
5. Deliberate
distraction or obstruction of batsman
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 ball
shall not count as one of the over
(vii) the
batsman at the wicket shall decide which of them is to face the next
delivery
(viii) 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, shall be included with bowling under (i) both when the umpire
is
considering whether the bowling of fast short pinched balls has become
dangerous and
unfair and after he has so decided. 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) As soon as the
umpire at the bowler’s end decides under 6(a) above that the bowling
of short pitched bowling has become dangerous and unfair or, except as
in 8 below,
there is an instance of dangerous and unfair bowling as defined in
6(b) above, he
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 any
further instance of such dangerous and unfair bowling by the same
bowler in the same 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
any further repetition 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
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
(i) call and signal
No ball.
(ii) direct the
captain, when the ball is dead, to take the bowler off forthwith.
(iii) 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
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.
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 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 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.
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 the provisions of Law 21.6 (Winning hit or extras), penalty runs
shall be awarded in each case where the Laws require the award. Note,
however,
that the restrictions on awarding penalty runs in Laws 26.3 (Leg byes not to
be
awarded); 34.4(d) (Runs permitted from ball struck lawfully more than once)
and
Law 41.4 (Penalty runs not to be awarded) will apply.
(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
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.
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