5. Changing the Condition of the Ball
Any member of the fielding side may polish the ball provided that
such polishing wastes no time and that no artificial substance is
used. No-one shall rub the ball on the ground or use any artificial
substance or take any other action to alter the condition of the ball.
In the event of a contravention of this Law, the Umpires, after
consultation, shall change the ball for one of similar condition
to that in use prior to the contravention.
This Law does not prevent a member of the fielding side from drying
a wet ball, or removing mud from the ball. See
Note (b).
6. Incommoding the Striker
An Umpire is justified in intervening under this Law and shall
call and signal "dead ball" if, in his opinion, any Player of the
fielding side incommodes the Striker by any noise or action while
he is receiving a ball.
7. Obstruction of a Batsman in Running
It shall be considered unfair if any Fieldsman wilfully obstructs
a Batsman in running. In these circumstances the Umpire shall
call and signal "dead ball" and allow any completed runs and the
run in progress or alternatively any boundary scored.
8. The Bowling of Fast Short Pitched Balls
The bowling of fast short pitched balls is unfair if, in the
opinion of the Umpire at the Bowler's end, it constitutes an attempt
to intimidate the Striker. See Note (d).
Umpires shall consider intimidation to be the deliberate bowling
of fast short pitched balls which by their length, height and
direction are intended or likely to inflict physical injury on
the Striker. The relative skill of the Striker shall also be
taken into consideration.
In the event of such unfair bowling, the Umpire at the Bowler's
end shall adopt the following procedure:-
(a) In the first instance the Umpire shall call
and signal "no ball", caution the Bowler and inform the other
Umpire, the Captain of the fielding side and the Batsmen of what has
occurred.
(b) If this caution is ineffective, he shall
repeat the above procedure and indicate to the Bowler that this
is a final warning.
(c) Both the above caution and final warning shall continue to
apply even though the Bowler may later change ends.
(d) Should the above warnings prove ineffective
the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall:-
(i) At the first repetition call and signal "no ball" and when
the ball is dead direct the Captain to take the Bowler off forthwith
and to complete the over with another Bowler, provided that
the Bowler does not bowl two overs or part thereof consecutively.
See Law 22.7. (Bowler
Incapacitated or Suspended during an Over).
(ii) Not allow the Bowler, thus taken off, to bowl again in the
same innings.
(iii)Report the occurrence to the Captain of the batting side as
soon as the Players leave the field for an interval.
(iv) Report the occurrence to the Executive of the fielding side
and to any governing body responsible for the match who shall
take any further action which is considered to be appropriate
against the Bowler concerned.
9. The Bowling of Fast High Full Pitches
[Previous Law 42.9 The bowling of fast high full pitches is unfair.
A fast high full pitched ball shall be defined as a ball that
passes, or would have passed, on the full above waist height of a
Batsman standing upright at the crease. Should a Bowler bowl a
fast high full pitched ball, either Umpire shall call and signal
"no ball" and adopt the procedure of caution, final warning, ac-
tion against the Bowler and reporting as set out in 8. above.]
[Previous Law 42.9 above was replaced with the following amendment,
approved by the MCC at a Special General Meeting held
on 6 May, 1998. This amendment applies to all
grades of cricket with immediate effect.]
New Law 42.9
Any high full pitched ball (regardless of its pace) which passes or would
have passed above waist height of the Batsman standing upright at the
crease shall be called and signalled 'No Ball' by the Umpire at the
Bowler's end.
In the event of a Bowler bowling a 'fast' high full pitched ball (i.e. a
"beamer"), the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall adopt the procedure of
caution, final warning, action against the Bowler and reporting as set
out in 8. above
However if the Umpire at the Bowler's end considers that such a 'fast'
high full pitch has been bowled 'deliberately' at the Batsman he shall
call and signal 'No Ball' and direct the Captain of the fielding side to
take the Bowler off forthwith without adopting the procedure of caution
and final warning.
10. Time Wasting
Any form of time wasting is unfair.
(a) In the event of the Captain of the
fielding side wasting time or allowing any member of his side to
waste time, the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall adopt the following
procedure:-
(i) In the first instance he shall caution the Captain of the
fielding side and inform the other Umpire of what has occurred.
(ii) If this caution is ineffective he shall repeat the above
procedure and indicate to the Captain that this is a final warning.
(iii)The Umpire shall report the occurrence to the Captain of the
batting side as soon as the Players leave the field for an interval.
(iv) Should the above procedure prove ineffective the Umpire
shall report the occurrence to the Executive of the fielding side
and to any governing body responsible for that match who shall
take appropriate action against the Captain and the Players con-
cerned.
(b) In the event of a Bowler taking unnecessarily long to bowl
an over the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall adopt the procedures,
other than the calling of "no-ball", of caution, final
warning, action against the Bowler and reporting as set out in
8 above.
(c) In the event of a Batsman wasting time (See
Note (f)) other
than in the manner described in Law 31.
(Timed Out), the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall adopt the
following procedure:-
(i) In the first instance he shall caution the Batsman and inform
the other Umpire at once, and the Captain of the batting
side, as soon as the Players leave the field for an interval, of
what has occurred.
(ii) If this proves ineffective, he shall repeat the caution, indicate
to the Batsman that this is a final warning and inform the other Umpire.
(iii)The Umpire shall report the occurrence to both Captains as
soon as the Players leave the field for an interval.
(iv) Should the above procedure prove ineffective, the Umpire
shall report the occurrence to the Executive of the batting side
and to any governing body responsible for that match who shall
take appropriate action against the Player concerned.
11. Players Damaging the Pitch
The Umpires shall intervene and prevent Players from causing dam-
age to the pitch which may assist the Bowlers of either side.
See Note (c).
(a) In the event of any member of the fielding side damaging the
pitch the Umpire shall follow the procedure of caution, final
warning and reporting as set out in 10(a) above.
(b) In the event of a Bowler contravening this Law by running
down the pitch after delivering the ball, the Umpire at the
Bowler's end shall first caution the Bowler. If this caution is
ineffective the Umpire shall adopt the procedures, other than the
calling of "no-ball", of final warning, action against the Bowler
and reporting as set out in 8. above.
(c) In the event of a Batsman damaging the pitch
the Umpire at the Bowler's end shall follow the procedures of
caution, final warning and reporting as set out in
10(c) above.
12. Batsman Unfairly Stealing a Run
Any attempt by the Batsman to steal a run during the Bowler's
run-up is unfair. Unless the Bowler attempts to run out either
Batsman -- see Law 24.4.(Bowler
Throwing at Striker's Wicket Before Delivery) and
Law 24.5. (Bowler Attempting to Run
Out Non-Striker Before Delivery) -- the Umpire shall call and
signal "dead ball" as soon as the Batsmen cross in any such attempt to
run. The Batsmen shall then return to their original wickets.
13. Players' Conduct
In the event of a player failing to comply with the instructions
of an Umpire, 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, in the
first place report the matter to the other Umpire and to the
Player's Captain requesting the latter to take action. If this
proves ineffective, the Umpire shall report the incident as soon
as possible to the Executive of the Player's team and to any
Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall take any
further action which is considered appropriate against the Player
or Players concerned.
Notes
(a) The Condition of the Ball
Umpires shall make frequent and irregular inspections of the
condition of the ball.
(b) Drying of a Wet Ball
A wet ball may be dried on a towel or with sawdust.
(c) Danger Area
The danger area on the pitch, which must be protected from damage
by a Bowler, shall be regarded by the Umpires as the area con-
tained by an imaginary line 4 ft./1.22 m. from the popping
crease, and parallel to it, and within two imaginary and parallel
lines drawn down the pitch from points on that line 1 ft./30.48
cm. on either side of the middle stump.
(d) Fast Short Pitched Balls
As a guide, a fast short pitched ball is one which pitches short
and passes, or would have passed, above the shoulder height of
the Striker standing in a normal batting stance at the crease.
(e) [Eliminated by amendment to Law 42.9.]
(f) Time Wasting by Batsmen
Other than in exceptional circumstances, the Batsman should always
be ready to take strike when the Bowler is ready to start
his run-up.
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