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Law 5 The ball Law 9 The bowling, popping and return
creases
Law 6 The bat Law 10 Preparation and maintenance of
the
Law 7 The pitch
playing area
Law 8 The wickets
Law 11
Covering the pitch
1. Weight and size
The ball, when new, shall weigh not less than 5½ ounces/155.9g, nor more than 5¾
ounces/163g, and shall measure not less than 813/16 in/22.4cm, nor more than 9 in/
22.9cm in circumference.
2. Approval and control of balls
(a) All balls to be used in the match, having been approved by the umpires and
captains, shall be in the possession of the umpires before the toss and shall
remain under their control throughout the
match.
(b) The umpire shall take possession of the ball in use at the fall of each
wicket, at
the start of any interval and at any interruption of play.
3. New ball
Unless an agreement to the contrary has been made before the match, either
captain
may demand a new ball at the start of each innings.
4. New ball in match of more than one day’s duration
In a match of more than one day’s duration, the captain of the fielding side may
demand
a new ball after the prescribed number of overs has been bowled with the old one. The
Governing Body for cricket
in the country concerned shall decide the number of overs
applicable in that country, which shall not be less than 75 overs. The umpires shall
indicate to the batsmen and the scorers whenever a new ball is taken into play.
5. Ball lost or becoming unfit for play
If, during play, the ball cannot be found or recovered or the umpires agree that
it has
become unfit for play through normal use, the umpires shall replace it with a ball which
has had wear comparable with
that which the previous ball had received before the need
for its replacement.
When the ball is replaced the umpires
shall inform the batsmen and the fielding captain.
6. Specifications
The specifications as described in 1 above shall apply to men’s cricket only.
The following specifications will apply to:-
(i) Women’s cricket Weight: from 415/16 ounces/140g to 55/16 ounces /151g
Circumference: from 8¼ in/21.0cm to 87/8 in/22.5cm
(ii) Junior cricket (U13) Weight: from 411/16 ounces/133g to 51/16 ounces/144g
Circumference: from 81/16 in/20.5cm to 811/16 in/22.0cm
1. Width and length
The bat overall shall not be more than 38 inches/96.5cm in length. The blade of
the bat
shall be made solely of wood and shall not exceed 4¼ inches/10.8cm at the widest part.
2. Covering the blade
The blade may be covered with material for protection, strengthening or repair.
Such
material shall not exceed 1/16 inches/1.56mm in thickness, and shall not be likely to
cause unacceptable damage
to the ball.
3. Hand or glove to count as part of bat
In these Laws, (a) reference to the bat shall imply that the bat is held by
the batsman.
(b) contact between the ball and either
(i) the striker’s bat itself or
(ii) the striker’s hand holding the bat or
(iii) any part of a glove worn on the striker’s hand holding the bat
shall
be regarded as the ball striking or touching the bat, or being struck
by the bat.
1. Area of pitch
The pitch is a rectangular area of the ground 22 yards/20.12m in length and
10ft/3.05m in
width. It is bounded at either end by the bowling creases and on either side by imaginary
lines, one each side
of the imaginary line joining the centres of the two middle stumps,
each parallel to it and 5ft/1.52m from it. See Laws
8.1 (Width and pitching) and 9.2 (The
bowling crease).
2. Fitness of the pitch for play
The umpires shall be the final judges of the fitness of the pitch for play. See
Laws 3.8
(Fitness of ground, weather and light) and 3.9 (Suspension of play for adverse conditions
of ground, weather or
light).
3. Selection and preparation
Before the match, the Ground Authority shall be responsible for the selection
and
preparation of the pitch. During the match, the umpires shall control its use and
maintenance.
4. Changing the pitch
The pitch shall not be changed during the match unless the umpires decide that
it is
unreasonable or dangerous for play to continue on it and then only with the consent
of both captains.
5. Non-turf pitches
In the event of a non-turf pitch being used, the artificial surface shall
conform to the
following measurements:
Length - a minimum of 58ft/17.68m Width - a minimum of 6ft/1.83m
See Law 10.8 (Non-turf pitches).
LAW 8 THE WICKETS
1. Width and pitching
Two sets of wickets shall be pitched opposite and parallel to each other at a
distance
of 22 yards/20.12m between
the centres of the two middle stumps. Each set shall be
9in/22.86cm wide and
shall consist of three wooden stumps with two wooden bails on
top.
2. Size of stumps
The tops of the stumps shall be 28 inches/71.1cm above the playing surface and
shall be
dome shaped except for the bail grooves. The portion of a stump above the playing
surface shall be cylindrical, apart from the domed top, with circular section of diameter
not less than 1 3/8 in/ 3.49cm nor more than 1½
in/3.81cm.
3. The bails
(a) The bails, when in position on the top of the stumps,
(i) shall not project more than ½ in/1.27cm above them.
(ii) shall fit between the stumps without forcing them out of the vertical.
(b) Each bail shall conform to the following specifications.
Overall length:- 4 5/16 in/10.95cm Length of barrel:- 2 1/8 in/5.40cm
Longer spigot:- 13/8 in/3.49cm Shorter spigot:- 13/16 in/2.06cm
4. Junior cricket
In junior cricket, the same definitions of the wickets shall apply subject to
following
measurements being used.
Pitched for under 13 - 21 yards/19.20m;
Pitched for under 11 - 20 yards/18.29m;
Pitched for under 9 - 18 yards/16.46m
Width:- 8 in/20.32cm Ht. above playing surface:- 27 in/68.58cm
Each stump Diameter:- not less than 11/4 in/3.18cm nor more than 13/8 in/3.49cm
Each bail Overall:- 313/16 in/9.68cm Barrel:- 113/16 in/4.60cm
Longer Spigot:- 11/4 in/3.18cm Shorter Spigot:- 3/4 in/1.91cm
5. Dispensing with bails
The umpires may agree to dispense with the use of bails, if necessary. If they
so agree
then no bails shall be used at either end. The use of bails shall be resumed as soon as
conditions permit.
See Law 28.4 (Dispensing with bails).
LAW 9 THE BOWLING, POPPING AND RETURN CREASES
1. The creases
A bowling crease, a popping crease and two return creases shall be marked in
white,
as set out in 2, 3 and 4 below, at each end of the pitch.
2. The bowling crease
The bowling crease, which is the back edge of the crease marking, shall be the
line
through the centres of the three stumps at that end. It shall be 8ft 8 in/2.64m in length,
with the stumps in the
centre.
3. The popping crease
The popping crease, which is the back edge of the crease marking, shall be in
front of
and parallel to the bowling crease and shall be 4ft/1.22m from it. The popping crease
shall be marked to a minimum
of 6ft/1.83m on either side of the imaginary line joining
the centres of the middle stumps and shall be considered
to be unlimited in length.
4. The return creases
The return creases, which are the inside edges of the crease markings, shall be
at right
angles to the popping crease at a distance of 4ft 4 in/1.32m either side of the imaginary
line joining the centres
of the two middle stumps. Each return crease shall be marked
from the popping crease to a minimum of 8ft/2.44m behind it and
shall be considered
to be unlimited in length.
LAW 10 PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PLAYING AREA
1. Rolling
The pitch shall not be rolled during the match except as permitted in (a) and
(b) below.
(a)
Frequency and duration of rolling
During the match the pitch may be rolled at the request of the captain of the
batting
side, for a period of not more than 7 minutes, before the start of each innings, other
than the first innings
of the match, and before the start of each subsequent day’s play.
See (d) below.
(b)
Rolling after a delayed start
In addition to the rolling permitted above, if, after the toss and before the
first innings
of the match, the start is delayed, the captain of the batting side may request to have
the pitch rolled for not
more than 7 minutes. However, if the umpires together agree
that the delay has had no significant effect on the state
of the pitch, they shall refuse
the request for the rolling of the pitch.
(c)
Choice of rollers
If there is more than one roller available the captain of the batting side shall
have the
choice.
(d)
Timing of permitted rolling
The rolling permitted (maximum 7 minutes) before play begins on any day shall be
started not more than 30 minutes before the time scheduled or rescheduled for play
to begin.
The captain of the
batting side may, however, delay the start of such rolling until not
less than 10 minutes before the time scheduled
or rescheduled for play to begin,
should he so desire.
(e)
Insufficient time to complete rolling
If a captain declares an innings closed, or forfeits an innings, or enforces the
follow-on, and the other captain is prevented thereby from exercising his option of
the rolling
permitted (maximum 7 minutes), or if he is so prevented for any other
reason, the extra time required to complete the rolling shall be
taken out of the
normal playing time.
2. Sweeping
(a) If rolling is to take place the pitch shall first be swept to avoid any
possible damage
by rolling in debris. This sweeping shall be done so that the 7 minutes allowed for
rolling is not affected.
(b) The pitch shall be cleared of any debris at all intervals for meals, between
innings
and at the beginning of each day, not earlier than 30 minutes nor later than 10 mins
before the time scheduled or
rescheduled for play to begin. See Law 15.1 (An
interval).
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of (a) and (b) above, the umpires shall not
allow
sweeping to take place where they consider it may be detrimental to the surface of
the pitch.
3. Mowing
(a)
The pitch
The pitch shall be mown on each day of the match on which play is expected to
take
place, if ground and weather conditions allow.
(b)
The outfield
In order to ensure that conditions are as similar as possible for both sides,
the
outfield shall be mown on each day of the match on which play is expected to take
place, if ground and weather
conditions allow. If, for reasons other than ground and
weather conditions, complete mowing of the outfield is not possible,
the Ground
Authority shall notify the captains and umpires of the procedure to be adopted for
such mowing during the
match.
(c)
Responsibility for mowing
All mowings which are carried out before the match shall be the responsibility
of
the Ground Authority. All subsequent mowings shall be carried out under the super-
vision of the umpires.
(d)
Timing of mowing
(i) Mowing of the pitch on any day of the match shall be completed not later
than
30 minutes before the time scheduled or rescheduled for play to begin on that
day.
(ii) Mowing of the outfield on any day of the match shall be completed not later
than15 minutes before the time scheduled or rescheduled for play to begin on
that day.
4. Watering
The pitch shall not be watered during the match.
5. Re-marking creases
The creases shall be re-marked whenever either umpire considers it necessary.
6. Maintenance of foot-holes
The umpires shall ensure that the holes made by the bowlers and batsmen are
cleaned
out and dried whenever necessary to facilitate play. In matches of more than one day’s
duration, the umpires
shall allow, if necessary, the re-turfing of footholes made by the
bowler in his delivery stride, or the use of quick-setting fillings
for the same purpose.
7. Securing of footholds and maintenance of pitch
During play, the umpires shall allow the players to secure their footholds by
the use of
sawdust provided that no damage to the pitch is caused and that Law 42 (Fair and unfair
play) is not contravened.
8. Non-turf pitches
Wherever appropriate, the provisions set out in 1 to 7 above shall apply.
LAW 11 COVERING THE PITCH
1. Before the match
The use of covers before the match is the responsibility of the Ground Authority
and
may include full covering if required. However, the Ground Authority shall grant suitable
facility to the captains to
inspect the pitch before the nomination of their players and to
the umpires to discharge their duties as laid down in Laws 3 (The
umpires), 7 (The pitch),
8 (The wickets), 9 (The bowling, popping and return creases) and 10 (Preparation and
maintenance
of the playing area).
2. During the match
The pitch shall not be completely covered during the match unless provided
otherwise
by regulations or by agreement before the toss.
3. Covering bowlers’ run ups
Whenever possible, the bowlers’ run ups shall be covered in inclement weather,
in order
to keep them dry. Unless there is agreement for full covering under 2 above the covers
so used shall not extend
further than 5ft/1.52m in front of each popping crease.
4. Removal of covers
(a) If after the toss the pitch is covered overnight, the covers shall be
removed in the
morning at the earliest possible moment on each day that play is expected to take
place.
(b) If covers are used during the day as protection from inclement weather, or
if
inclement weather delays the removal of overnight covers, they shall be removed
promptly as soon as conditions allow.
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