The Players (Law 1)
Teams of 11 players, one of whom shall be the captain,
(by agreement may be more players)
Only 11 may field at any time
Nomination of teams must be given in writing to umpires before the toss
Changes after nomination only by agreement with opposing captain
Deputy to act if captain not available at any time:
· deputy to nominate team & toss if captain not available
· after toss, deputy must be a nominated player
NB
Responsibility of captains and players to uphold the ‘Spirit of Game’ (also 42.1 – fair play)
Count players before call of play and after any interval.
If player becomes injured or ill at any time after nomination of players, he is entitled to:
· a substitute in the field
· a runner
Umpires have:
· the responsibility for deciding whether a substitute or runner will be allowed – it is not the captain’s decision
· the discretion to allow sub/runner for other wholly acceptable reasons than illness or injury
No substitute for player wishing to change boots, shirt etc – anyone wishing to do so must leave field
Opposing captain have no right of objection to substitute – but substitute not to act as captain or keep wicket
If fielder is absent on resumption of play, or wants to leave the field, the umpire at the bowler’s must be informed of the reason; the consent of the bowler’s end umpire is needed for the fielder to return
If player returns to field without permission & comes into contact with ball, the ball will immediately become dead –
· the umpire will award 5 penalty runs to the batting side
· inform colleague, bats, f/captain, b/captain as soon as practicable
· report occurrence
After absence of 15 min or more, player not allowed to bowl for time equal to absence. The restriction:
· applies at start of match
· not to be carried into new innings except on follow-on
· time lost due to unscheduled stoppage to count as time on field if fielder returns at resumption
Runners must:
· be a member of batting side
· have batted already if possible
· not to be next man in
· wear the same external protection as batsman & carry a bat
Runners are subject to laws as a batsman
Batsman with runner:
· will suffer penalty for any transgressions by the runner
· remains subject to laws – may be run out or stumped irrespective of the runner’s position (no runs to count except penalties, nb,wb)
· when not on strike, is out of the game & stands as directed by ump – can be out under laws 33 & 37 and subject to penalties under law 42
Batsman retiring
· a batsman may retire due to illness, injury, unavoidable cause – is entitled to return at fall of wicket or other retirement – otherwise he is ‘retired – not out’
· if a batsman retires for any other reason he may only return with consent of opposition captain – otherwise he is ‘retired – out’
Commencement of batsman’s innings:
· a batsman’s innings begins when he steps on to the field of play unless he is an opening batsman or new batsman after time has been called; then his innings begins on the call of ‘play’
(Tom Smith’s p126-129)
Bowler must complete the over in progress (except at end of inns) unless incapacitated or suspended
An over that is unfinished at interval/interruption must be completed on resumption – KEEP CHECK
If the bowler is unable to complete an over, due incapacity or suspension:
· allow another player to complete over (not bowler of previous or next over)
· call & signal ‘dead ball’ if the bowler has not delivered the ball
The Wicketkeeper has a unique right to wear gloves & external leg-guards
He forfeits that right if it is apparent to umpires that by his position & actions he is no longer able to discharge w/keeping duties and:
should be required to remove gloves & leg-guards
if he does not he is vulnerable under other laws in the same way as a fielder, eg Law 41.2 (illegal fielding)
Wicket Keeping Gloves – should be flat with non stretch webbing
The wicket keeper MUST remain wholly behind the striker’s wicket from ball coming into play until:
· ball touches striker’s bat/person or
· passes striker’s wicket or
· striker attempts run
On infringement: striker’s umpire is to call & signal ‘no-ball’
It is unfair play if the wicket /keeper makes significant movement towards the wicket between ball coming into play & being received’ – either umpire to call & signal ‘dead ball’
Interference by wicketkeeper on striker – striker may only be out under Laws 33,34,37,38
No gloves or external leg-guards (ex w/k)
Hand/finger protection only with umpire consent
May field the ball with any part of person, but, if he wilfully does otherwise:
· ball will become dead and bowler’s umpire will award 5 pen runs to batting side
· inform colleague, bats, f/captain, b/captain as soon as pract
· report occurrence
If ball hits protective helmet – dead ball, five pen runs but no other action
But, no penalty runs will be allowed under this Law if the ball first struck the person of the striker and the striker attempted neither to play the ball nor to avoid being hit
At instant of delivery, if more than two on-side fielders behind p/crease – striker’s ump to call & signal ‘no-ball’
Fielder to be considered behind the popping crease unless the whole of his person, grounded or in the air, is in front of this line
Fielders not to encroach on ‘pitch’ – penalty ‘no-ball’
‘Dead ball’ to be called in event of significant movement by fielders between the ball coming into play and being received by striker:
· close fielders – only allow minor adjustments to stance/position
· anything other than slight movement or movement away from striker is unfair