LAW 2 THE UMPIRES
2.1 Appointment and attendance
Before the match, two umpires shall be appointed, one for each end, to control the match as required by the Laws, with absolute impartiality. The umpires shall be present on the ground and report to the Executive of the ground at least 45 minutes before the scheduled start of each day’s play.
2.2 Change of umpire
An umpire shall not be changed during the match, other than in exceptional circumstances, unless he/she is injured or ill. If there has to be a change of umpire, the replacement shall act only as the striker’s end umpire unless the captains agree that the replacement should take full responsibility as an umpire.
2.3 Consultation with captains
Before the toss the umpires shall
2.3.1 meet with the captains; the umpires shall determine
2.3.1.1 the balls to be used during the match. See Law 4 (The ball).
LAW 4 THE BALL
4.1 Weight and size
The ball, when new, shall weigh not less than 5.5 ounces/155.9 g, nor more than 5.75 ounces/163 g, and shall measure not less than 8.81 in/22.4 cm, nor more than 9 in/22.9 cm in circumference.
4.2 Approval and control of balls
4.2.1 All balls to be used in the match, having been determined by the umpires, shall be in the possession of the umpires before the toss and shall remain under their control throughout the match.
4.2.2 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.
4.3 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.
4.4 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 when the number of overs, excluding any part overs, bowled with the old one is equal to or greater than 80 overs. The umpire shall inform the other umpire and indicate to the batters and the scorers whenever a new ball is taken into play.
4.5 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 umpire shall inform the batters and the fielding captain.
4.6 Specifications
The specifications as described in 4.1 shall apply to men’s cricket only. The following specifications shall apply to:
4.6.1 Women’s cricket
Weight: from 4.94 ounces/140 g to 5.31 ounces/151 g
Circumference: from 8.25 in/21.0 cm to 8.88 in/22.5 cm.
4.6.2 Junior cricket – Under 13
Weight: from 4.69 ounces/133 g to 5.06 ounces/144 g
Circumference: from 8.06 in/20.5 cm to 8.69 in/22.0 cm.
2.3.1.2 the hours of play and the times and durations of any agreed intervals. In a match of one day’s duration, no specific time need be agreed for the tea interval. It may be agreed instead to take this interval between innings. See Law 11 (Intervals).
2.3.1.3 which clock or watch and back-up timepiece is to be used during the match.
2.3.1.4 the boundary of the field of play and allowances for boundaries, including whether any obstacle within the field of play is to be regarded as a boundary. See Law 19 (Boundaries).
2.3.1.5 the use of covers. See Law 10 (Covering the pitch).
2.3.1.6 any special conditions of play affecting the conduct of the match.
2.3.2 inform the scorers of agreements in 2.3.1.2, 2.3.1.3, 2.3.1.4 and 2.3.1.6.
2.4 The wickets, creases and boundaries
Before the toss and during the match, the umpires shall satisfy themselves that
2.4.1 the creases are correctly marked. See Law 7 (The creases).
2.4.2 the wickets are properly pitched. See Law 8 (The wickets).
2.4.3 the boundary of the field of play complies with the requirements of Laws 19.1
(Determining the boundary of the field of play), 19.2 (Identifying and marking the
boundary) and 19.3 (Restoring the boundary).
19.1 Determining the boundary of the field of play
19.1.1 Before the toss, the umpires shall determine the boundary of the field of play, which shall be fixed for the duration of the match. See Law 2.3.1.4 (Consultation with captains).
19.1.2 The boundary shall be determined such that no part of any sightscreen will, at any stage of the match, be within the field of play.
19.2 Identifying and marking the boundary
19.2.1 Wherever practicable, the boundary shall be marked by means of a continuous white line or by an object in contact with the ground.
19.2.2 If the boundary is marked by means of a white line,
19.2.2.1 the edge of the line nearest the pitch shall be the boundary.
19.2.2.2 an object such as a flag, post or board, used merely to highlight the position of a line marked on the ground, must be placed beyond the boundary and is no itself to be regarded as being the boundary.
19.2.3 If the boundary is marked by means of an object that is in contact with the ground the boundary will be the edge of the grounded part of the object which is nearest the pitch.
19.2.4 Where there is no white line or object providing continuous marking, objects such as flags, posts or boards may be used to mark specific points on the boundary. The boundary shall be the imaginary straight line on the ground joining the two nearest marked points.
19.2.5 A boundary that cannot be identified as in 19.2.2, 19.2.3 or 19.2.4 shall be determined by the umpires before the toss.
19.2.6 An obstacle within the field of play, other than as in 19.2.7, shall not be regarded as a boundary unless so determined by the umpires before the toss. See Law 2.3.1.4 (Consultation with captains).
19.2.7 A person, animal or object coming onto the field of play while the ball is in play shall not be regarded as a boundary unless the umpires determine otherwise at the time that contact between the ball and such a person, animal or object is made. The decision shall be made for each separate occurrence. See also Law 20.4.2.12 (Umpire calling and signalling Dead ball).
20.4.2.12 he/she considers that either side has been disadvantaged by a person, animal or other object within the field of play. However, if both umpires consider the ball would have reached the boundary regardless of the intervention, the boundary should stand (see Law 19.2.7 – Identifying and marking the boundary).
19.3 Restoring the boundary
If a solid object used to mark the boundary is disturbed for any reason, then
19.3.1 the boundary shall be considered to be in its original position.
19.3.2 the object shall be returned to its original position as soon as is practicable; if play is taking place, this shall be as soon as the ball is dead.
19.3.3 if some part of a fence or other marker has come within the field of play, that part shall be removed from the field of play as soon as is practicable; if play is taking place, this shall be as soon as the ball is dead.
2.5 Conduct of the match, implements and equipment
Before the toss and during the match, the umpires shall satisfy themselves that
2.5.1 the conduct of the match is strictly in accordance with the Laws.
2.5.2 the implements used in the match conform to the following:
2.5.2.1 Law 4 (The ball).
2.5.2.2 externally visible requirements of Law 5 (The bat) and Appendix B.
2.5.2.3 either Laws 8.2 (Size of stumps) and 8.3 (The bails) or, if applicable, Law 8.4
(Junior cricket).
8.2 Size of stumps
The tops of the stumps shall be 28 in/71.12 cm 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 than1.38 in/3.50 cm nor more than 1.5 in/3.81 cm. See Appendix D.
8.3 The bails
8.3.1 The bails, when in position on top of the stumps,
– shall not project more than 0.5 in/1.27 cm above them.
– shall fit between the stumps without forcing them out of the vertical.
8.3.2 Each bail shall conform to the following specifications (see Appendix D):
Overall length 4.31 in/10.95 cm
Length of barrel 2.13 in /5.40 cm
Longer spigot 1.38 in/3.50 cm
Shorter spigot 0.81 in/2.06 cm.
8.3.3 The two spigots and the barrel shall have the same centre line.
8.3.4 Devices aimed at protecting player safety by limiting the distance that a bail can travel off the stumps will be allowed, subject to the approval of the Governing Body for the match and the Ground Authority.
8.4 Junior cricket
The Governing Body for cricket in the country concerned shall determine the dimensions of the stumps and bails.
2.5.3 no player uses equipment other than that permitted. See Appendix A.2. Note particularly therein the interpretation of ‘protective helmet’.
A.2 Implements and equipment
A.2.1 Implements used in the match are the bat, the ball, the stumps and bails.
A.2.2 External protective equipment is any visible item of apparel worn for protection against externa blows.
For a batter, items permitted are a protective helmet, external leg guards (batting pads), batting gloves and, if visible, forearm guards.
For a fielder, only a protective helmet is permitted, except in the case of a wicket-keeper, for whom wicket-keeping pads and gloves are also permitted.
A.2.3 A protective helmet is headwear made of hard material and designed to protect the head, neck and/or the face. For the purposes of interpreting these Laws of Cricket, such a description will include faceguards, grilles and neck guards.
A.2.4 Equipment – a batter’s equipment is his/her bat as defined above, together with any external protective equipment he/she is wearing.
A fielder’s equipment is any external protective equipment that he/she is wearing.
A.2.5 The bat – the following are to be considered as part of the bat:
– the whole of the bat itself.
– the whole of a glove (or gloves) worn on the hand (or hands) holding the bat.
– the hand (or hands) holding the bat, if the batter is not wearing a glove on that hand or on those hands.
A.2.6 Held in batter’s hand – contact between a batter’s hand, or glove worn on his/her hand, and any part of the bat shall constitute the bat being held in that hand.
2.5.4 the wicket-keeper’s gloves comply with the requirements of Law 27.2 (Gloves).
27.2 Gloves
27.2.1 If, as permitted under 27.1, the wicket-keeper wears gloves, they shall have no webbing between the fingers except joining index finger and thumb, where webbing may be inserted as a means of support.
27.2.2 If used, the webbing shall be a single piece of non-stretch material which, although it may have facing material attached, shall have no reinforcements or tucks.
27.2.3 The top edge of the webbing shall not protrude beyond the straight line joining the top of the index finger to the top of the thumb and shall be taut when a hand wearing the glove has the thumb fully extended. See Appendix E.
2.6 Fair and unfair play
The umpires shall be the sole judges of fair and unfair play.
2.7 Fitness for play
2.7.1 It is solely for the umpires together to decide whether either conditions of ground, weather or light or exceptional circumstances mean that it would be dangerous or unreasonable for play to take place.
Conditions shall not be regarded as either dangerous or unreasonable merely because they are not ideal.
The fact that the grass and the ball are wet does not warrant the ground conditions being regarded as unreasonable or dangerous.
2.7.2 Conditions shall be regarded as dangerous if there is actual and foreseeable risk to the safety of any player or umpire.
2.7.3 Conditions shall be regarded as unreasonable if, although posing no risk to safety, it would not be sensible for play to proceed.
2.7.4 If the umpires consider the ground is so wet or slippery as to deprive the bowler of a reasonable foothold, the fielders of the power of free movement, or the batters of the ability to play their strokes or to run between the wickets, then these conditions shall be regarded as so bad that it would be dangerous and unreasonable for play to take place.
2.8 Suspension of play in dangerous or unreasonable circumstances
2.8.1 All references to ground include the pitch. See Law 6.1 (Area of pitch).
6.1 Area of pitch
The pitch is a rectangular area of the ground 22 yards/20.12 m in length and 10 ft/3.05 m 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 5 ft/1.52 m from it. If the pitch is next to an artificial pitch which is closer than 5 ft/1.52 m from the middle stumps, the pitch on that side will extend only to the junction of the two surfaces.
See 6.6, Law 8.1 (Description, width and pitching), Law 7.2 (The bowling crease) and Appendix C.
6.6 Junior Cricket
The Governing Body for cricket in the country concerned shall determine the length of the pitch for junior cricket.
8.1 Description, width and pitching
Two sets of wickets shall be pitched opposite and parallel to each other in the centres of the bowling creases. Each set shall be 9 in/22.86 cm wide and shall consist of three wooden stumps with two wooden bails on top. See Appendix D.
2.8.2 The Umpires shall immediately suspend play, or not allow play to start or to recommence, if either umpire considers that the conditions of ground, weather or light, or any other circumstances are either dangerous or unreasonable.
2.8.3 When there is a suspension of play it is the responsibility of the umpires to monitor conditions. They shall make inspections as often as appropriate, unaccompanied by any players or officials. Immediately the umpires together agree that the conditions are no longer dangerous or unreasonable they shall call upon the players to resume play.
2.9 Position of umpires
The umpires shall stand where they can best see any act upon which their decision may be required.
Subject to this over-riding consideration, the bowler’s end umpire shall stand in a position so as not to interfere with either the bowler’s run-up or the striker’s view.
The striker’s end umpire may elect to stand on the off side instead of the on side of the pitch, provided he/she informs the captain of the fielding side, the striker and the other umpire.
2.10 Umpires changing ends
The umpires shall change ends after each side has had one completed innings. See Law 13.3 (Completed innings).
13.3 Completed innings
A side’s innings is to be considered as completed if any of the following applies:
13.3.1 the side is all out.
13.3.2 at the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, further balls remain to be bowled but no further batter is available to come in.
13.3.3 the captain declares the innings closed.
13.3.4 the captain forfeits the innings.
13.3.5 in the case of an agreement under 13.1.2,
either the prescribed number of overs has been bowled
or the prescribed time has expired
as appropriate.
2.11 Disagreement and dispute
Where there is disagreement or dispute about any matter, the umpires together shall make the final decision. See also Law 31.6 (Consultation by umpires).
31.6 Consultation by umpires
Each umpire shall answer appeals on matters within his/her own jurisdiction. If an umpire is doubtful about any point that the other umpire may have been in a better position to see, he/she shall consult the latter on this point of fact and shall then give the decision. If, after consultation, there is still doubt remaining, the decision shall be Not out.
2.12 Umpire’s decision
An umpire may alter any decision provided that such alteration is made promptly and does not contradict Law 20.6 (Dead ball not to be revoked). This apart, an umpire’s decision, once made, is final.
20.6 Dead ball not to be revoked
Once the ball is dead, no revoking of any decision can bring the ball back into play for that delivery.
2.13 Signals
2.13.1 The following code of signals shall be used by umpires:
2.13.1.1 Signals made while the ball is in play
Dead ball – by crossing and re-crossing the wrists below the waist.
No ball – by extending one arm horizontally.
Out – by raising an index finger above the head. (If not out, the umpire shall call Not out.)
Wide – by extending both arms horizontally.
2.13.1.2 When the ball is dead, the bowler’s end umpire shall repeat the signals in 2.13.1.1, with
the exception of the signal for Out, to the scorers.
2.13.1.3 The signals listed below shall be made to the scorers only when the ball is dead.
Boundary 4 – by waving an arm from side to side finishing with the arm across the chest.
Boundary 6 – by raising both arms above the head.
Bye – by raising an open hand above the head.
Commencement of last hour – by pointing to a raised wrist with the other hand.
Five Penalty runs awarded to the batting side – by repeated tapping of one shoulder
with the opposite hand.
Five Penalty runs awarded to the fielding side – by placing one hand on the opposite
shoulder.
Leg bye – by touching a raised knee with the hand.
New ball – by holding the ball above the head.
Revoke last signal – by touching both shoulders, each with the opposite hand.
Short run – by bending one arm upwards and touching the nearer shoulder with the tips
of the fingers.
The following signals are for Level 3 and 4 offences in Law 42 (Players’ conduct).
Each signal has two parts, both of which should be acknowledged separately by the scorers.
Level 3 conduct – Part 1 – by putting one arm out to the side of the body and
repeatedly raising it and lowering it.
– Part 2 – by raising both hands, all fingers spread,
to shoulder height, palms facing towards the scorers.
Level 4 conduct – Part 1 – by putting one arm out to the side of the body and
repeatedly raising it and lowering it.
– Part 2 – by raising an index finger, held at shoulder height,
to the side of the body.
2.13.1.4 All the signals in 2.13.1.3 are to be made by the bowler’s end umpire except that for Short run, which is to be signalled by the umpire at the end where short running occurs. However, the bowler’s end umpire shall be responsible both for the final signal of Short run to the scorers and, if more than one run is short, for informing them as to the number of runs to be recorded.
2.13.2 The umpire shall wait until each signal to the scorers has been separately acknowledged by a scorer before allowing play to proceed.
If several signals are to be used, they should be given in the order that the events occurred.
2.14 Informing the umpires
Throughout the Laws, wherever the umpires are to receive information from captains or other players, it will be sufficient for one umpire to be so informed and for him/her to inform the other umpire.
2.15 Correctness of scores
Consultation between umpires and scorers on doubtful points is essential. The umpires shall, throughout the match, satisfy themselves as to the correctness of the number of runs scored, the wickets that have fallen and, where appropriate, the number of overs bowled. They shall agree these with the scorers at least at every interval, other than a drinks interval, and at the conclusion of the match.
See Laws 3.2 (Correctness of scores), 16.8 (Correctness of result) and 16.10 (Result not to be changed).
3.2 Correctness of scores
The scorers shall frequently check to ensure that their records agree. They shall agree with the umpires, at least at every interval, other than drinks intervals, and at the conclusion of the match, the runs scored, the wickets that have fallen and, where appropriate, the number of overs bowled. See Law 2.15 (Correctness of scores).
16.8 Correctness of result
Any decision as to the correctness of the scores shall be the responsibility of the umpires. See Law 2.15 (Correctness of scores).
16.10 Result not to be changed
Once the umpires have agreed with the scorers the correctness of the scores at the conclusion of the match – see Laws 2.15 (Correctness of scores) and 3.2 (Correctness of scores) – the result cannot thereafter be changed.