UNIT 7

The Not So Oftens

Law 31 – Timed Out

Law 33 – Handled The Ball

Law 34 – Hit The Ball Twice

Law 35 – Hit The Wicket

Law 37 – Obstructing The Field

Read the following material. Some of the more technical and irrelevant part of the Law has been deleted. The typing in red gives some explanations and examples of the Law in practice. At the end of the reading are questions that are practical examples of the Law at work. Answer them as best you can and then email the response pages only to the address given.

Reading the questions first will focus your reading.

LAW 31 TIMED OUT

1. Out Timed out

(a) After the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batsman, the incoming batsman must, unless Time has been called, be in position to take guard or for his partner to be ready to receive the next ball within 3 minutes of the dismissal or retirement. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batsman will be out, Timed out.

(b) In the event of protracted delay in which no batsman comes to the wicket, the umpires shall adopt the procedure of Law 21.3 (Umpires awarding a match). For the purposes of that Law the start of the action shall be taken as the expiry of the 3 minutes referred to above.

2. Bowler does not get credit

The bowler does not get credit for the wicket.

Rarely happens. Batsmen do not usually waste time getting to the crease. The likely cause of a prolonged wait is generally a glut of wickets meaning that incoming batsmen are not ready. In RDCA games, a certain number of overs need to be bowled so wasting time prolongs the inevitable. If there is a problem, consult first with the batting side before taking any action.

LAW 33 HANDLED THE BALL

1. Out Handled the ball

The striker is out Handled the ball if, except in the circumstances of 2 below, in the act of playing a ball delivered by the bowler, he wilfully strikes the ball with a hand not holding the bat. This will apply whether No ball has been called or not and whether it is the first strike or a second or subsequent strike. The act of playing the ball shall also encompass both playing at the ball and striking the ball more than once in defence of his wicket.

2. Not out Handled the ball

Notwithstanding 1 above,

(a) the striker will not be out Handled the ball if the strike with a hand not holding the bat is in order to avoid injury.

(b) the striker will not be out Handled the ball but will be liable to be out Obstructing the field if he makes a strike with a hand not holding the bat

(i) unless trying to avoid injury, as a lawful second or subsequent strike which prevents a catch. See Law 37.3 (Obstructing a ball from being caught).

(ii) unless trying to avoid injury, after he has completed the act of playing the ball, as

defined in 1 above.

(iii) at any time while the ball is in play, to return the ball to any fielder, without the

consent of a fielder. See Law 37.4 (Returning the ball to a fielder).

3. Bowler does not get credit

The bowler does not get credit for the wicket.

Consider this LAW in two scenarios

(1)PLAYING THE BALL

If in playing the ball the batsman takes his hand off the bat and deliberately strikes the ball, as he could in an attempt to protect his wicket with a second strike, then under this Law he is liable to be given out. However if he is defending himself from injury, he may use his hand as protection. The umpire would need to decide

(2)AT OTHER TIMES

If the batsman handles the ball for any reason other than to protect himself from injury, he can be given out for “obstructing the field”. Such instance include picking up the ball and returning it to a fielder without permission (Common sense and sportsmanship should prevail here, but to the letter of the Law, the batsman can be given out.)

LAW 34 HIT THE BALL TWICE

1. Out Hit the ball twice

(a) The striker is out Hit the ball twice if, while the ball is in play, it strikes any part of his person or is struck by his bat and, before the ball has been touched by a fielder, he

wilfully strikes it again with his bat or person, other than a hand not holding the bat, except for the sole purpose of guarding his wicket. See 3 below and Laws 33 (Handled

the ball) and 37 (Obstructing the field).

(b) For the purpose of this Law ‘struck’ or ‘strike’ shall include contact with the person of the striker.

2. Not out Hit the ball twice

Notwithstanding 1(a) above, the striker will not be out under this Law if

(i) he strikes the ball a second or subsequent time in order to return the ball to any fielder. Note, however, the provisions of Law 37.4 (Returning the ball to a fielder).

(ii) he wilfully strikes the ball after it has touched a fielder. Note, however the provisions of Law 37.1 (Out Obstructing the field).

6. Bowler does not get credit

The bowler does not get credit for the wicket.

This is a very convoluted Law that has been simplified by the 2013 rewrite of the Laws. There are several other provisions of this Law that have not been listed. The main things to understand are

  1. The batsman can hit the ball a second time but only in defence of his wicket. “Hit” also means “kick the ball away” or” block its path to the stumps with his body or hands/arm holding the bat”.
  2. No runs are possible from a ball struck twice. If runs are attempted, the umpire is to call and signal “Dead ball” as soon as one run is completed and return the batsmen to their original ends. If the ball reaches the boundary, the boundary is disallowed.
  3. The penalty for a No Ball stands but no other penalties shall be added for a ball after it has been struck more than once.
  4. If the batsman was to take a hand away from the bat and use that hand to strike the ball in defence of his wicket, he would not be out Hitting The Ball Twice but would be out for “Handling The Ball”

LAW 35 HIT WICKET

1. Out Hit wicket

(a) The striker is out Hit wicket if, after the bowler has entered his delivery stride and while the ball is in play, his wicket is put down either by the striker’s bat or by his person as described in Law 28.1(a)(ii), (iii) and (iv) (Wicket put down)

either (i) in the course of any action taken by him in preparing to receive or in receiving a delivery,

or (ii) in setting off for his first run immediately after playing or playing at the ball,

or (iii) if he makes no attempt to play the ball, in setting off for his first run, providing that in the opinion of the umpire this is immediately after he has had the opportunity of playing the ball,

or (iv) in lawfully making a second or further stroke for the purpose of guarding his

wicket within the provisions of Law 34.3 (Ball lawfully struck more than once).

(b) If the striker puts his wicket down in any of the ways described in Law 28.1(a)(ii), (iii) and (iv) (Wicket put down) before the bowler has entered his delivery stride, either

umpire shall call and signal Dead ball.

2. Not out Hit wicket

Notwithstanding 1 above, the striker is not out under this Law should his wicket be put down

in any of the ways referred to in 1 above if

(a) it occurs after he has completed any action in receiving the delivery, other than in

1(a)(ii), (iii) and (iv) above.

(b) it occurs when he is in the act of running, other than setting off immediately for his first run.

(c) it occurs when he is trying to avoid being run out or stumped.

(d) it occurs when he is trying to avoid a throw in at any time.

(e) the bowler after entering his delivery stride does not deliver the ball. In this case either umpire shall immediately call and signal Dead ball. See Law 23.4 (Umpire calling and signalling Dead ball).

(f) the delivery is a No ball.

Points of note here

Hit wicket is available as a form of dismissal once the bowler enters his delivery stride and lasts until the batsman has completed playing the ball and immediately set off for his first run. If the batsmen waits for the ball to clear the field before deciding to run and then inadvertently puts his wicket down, he is not out. In other words, the playing of the ball and the setting off for the first run being the cause of the wicket being put down must be one continuous action.

If the batsman breaks the wicket at any other time, he is not out hit wicket. If the act was wilful and caused a run out to be missed, on appeal the batsman could be liable to be out obstructing the field.

LAW 37 OBSTRUCTING THE FIELD

1. Out Obstructing the field

Either batsman is out Obstructing the field if he wilfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action. In particular, but not solely, it shall be regarded as obstruction and either batsman will be out Obstructing the field if while the ball is in play and after the striker has completed the act of playing the ball, as defined in Law 33.1, he wilfully strikes the ball with

(i) a hand not holding the bat, unless this is in order to avoid injury. See also Law 33.2 (Not out Handled the ball).

(ii) any other part of his person or with his bat. See also Law 34 (Hit the ball twice).

2. Accidental obstruction

It is for either umpire to decide whether any obstruction or distraction is wilful or not. He shall consult the other umpire if he has any doubt.

3. Obstructing a ball from being caught

The striker is out should wilful obstruction or distraction by either batsman prevent a catch being made. This shall apply even though the obstruction is caused by the striker himself in lawfully guarding his wicket under the provision of Law 34.3 (Ball lawfully struck more than once).

4. Returning the ball to a fielder

Either batsman is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and without the consent of a fielder, he uses his bat or any part of his person, including a hand not holding the bat, to return the ball to any fielder.

5. Runs scored

When either batsman is dismissed Obstructing the field,

(a) unless the obstruction prevents a catch from being made, runs completed by the batsmen before the offence shall be scored, together with any runs awarded for penalties to either side. See Laws 18.6 (Runs awarded for penalties) and 18.9 (Runs scored when a batsman is dismissed).

(b) if the obstruction prevents a catch from being made, runs completed by the batsmen shall not be scored but any penalties awarded to either side shall stand.

6. Bowler does not get credit

The bowler does not get credit for the wicket.

Whether or not an act is wilful is for the umpire alone to decide. If he has any doubt, he should consult with his square leg colleague.

Acts which may be considered wilful include

  • Calling on a fieldsman to drop a catch or suggesting out loud “He’ll drop it”
  • Obstructing the bowler’s path to field the ball.
  • Running a straight line between a thrower and the stumps in order to block his view and thwart an attempted run out.

A batsman sliding to make his ground has his bat hit by a return from the field. The ball goes out into the outfield and perhaps goes to the boundary. This is not a wilful act of obstruction. Play continues. The batsman is under no obligation to refrain from taking extra runs. In the spirit of the game batsmen may choose to not run. However, under the Laws they are under no obligation to do so.

UNIT 7 – ASSESSMENT

ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY. WHEN YOU ARE SATISFIED WITH YOUR RESPONSE, EMAIL THIS ANSWER PAGE TO GRAEME LLOYD at . [Editor: save your work as doc or docx file not pdf].HE WILL MARK YOUR RESPONSES AND RETURN THEM TO YOU VIA EMAIL ASAP. IN THE MEANTIME MOVE ON TO UNIT 8.

Name
Club

For each Scenario, put an “X” in the box of what you consider to be the correct answer. For each scenario, assume an appeal is made.

SCENARIO / Not Out / Handled the Ball / Hit the Ball Twice / Obstructing the Field / Hit wicket
  1. Jack plays a hook shot. As he does so, his helmet comes off and falls onto the wicket, dislodging a bail.

  1. Fred plays the ball into the ground. It bounces back towards his stumps. Fred knocks the ball away with his bat.

  1. Alex stuns the ball into the pitch. It stops at his feet. He picks it up and tosses it to the man running in from cover. There is an appeal.

  1. Stewie plays the ball firmly down the pitch and starts to run thinking it will beat the bowler. Remarkably the bowler stops the ball and prepares to throw. Stewie retreats towards the crease and appears to strategically place himself between the bowler and the stumps as he runs for home. The bowler throws the ball and hits Stewie in the middle of the back.

  1. Asif has played the ball into the covers. He moves forward out of his ground. Suddenly his right leg cramps and Asif reels back onto the stumps dislodging a bail.

  1. Mark tries a huge slog. As a cricket stroke it is a disaster. The ball hits the bottom edge and trickles toward mid-on. Frustrated, Mark chases the ball and tees it off over mid-wicket. There is an appeal.

  1. Karl hits a skier up into the air with mid off comfortably able to get under it and take a catch. At the top of his voice Karl calls, “Come on Paulie!! He’ll drop it!!”

  1. Max chops the ball into the ground. It bounces precariously close to his stumps. With a hand not holding the bat, Mark brushes the ball away from the stumps.

  1. The batsman plays the ball into the ground at his feet. The umpire calls “over”. The batsman picks up the ball and gives it to a passing fieldsman.

  1. Bob tucks the ball out towards short mid-wicket. He starts for a run and is watching the ball. Felix, the bowler, also with eyes on the ball, runs to do the fielding. He and Bob collide. Felix goes to ground. Bob stumbles then completes the run.

  1. Mick receives a screaming bouncer. He takes his hand off the bat and uses it to fend the ball off his face.

  1. Bert is batting. The keeper is up. Bert tries an inglorious sweep. The goes top edge to pad to shoulder and drifts up into the air. Fearing that the ball will fall onto his wicket, Bert parries it away with his bat. Meanwhile the keeper has made good ground forward and is in a position to catch the ball.

  1. Tom plays a flashing cut shot and as he immediately turns to run his back foot slips and dislodges a bail

  1. Chuck plays the ball into the pitch and it stops just in front of him. He looks at the bowler and gestures at the ball. The bowler say, “Yes thanks mate.” Chuck returns the ball to the fielder. Deep fine leg appeals.

  1. The ball lodges in the batsman’s pad. He picks it out and throws it to the slip fielder.

Assessor’s comments