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Laws of Cricket 2017 Code 3rd Edition 2022 1
Laws of Cricket 2017 Code 3rd Edition 2022 1
The game of Cricket has been governed by a series of Codes of Laws for over 275 years.
These Codes have been subject to additions and alterations recommended by the governing
authorities of the time. Since its formation in 1787, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has
been recognised as the sole authority for drawing up the Code and for all subsequent
amendments. The Club also holds the World Copyright.
The basic Laws of Cricket have stood the test of time remarkably well. While the game has
evolved over generations, it remains recognisably the same sport as in decades and centuries
gone by. The Laws today may be longer and more complex than the earliest Codes in the
18th Century, but they retain the same central core, and often some of the same language. It
is thought that one of the real reasons for this sustainability is not just the appeal of cricket as
a sport, but also that cricketers have traditionally been prepared to play in the Spirit of the
Game, recognised in the Preamble since 2000, as well as in accordance with the Laws.
That said, the game does evolve, and the Laws must do so with it. The changes made in the
2017 Code – of which this is the third edition - reflected views following a global
consultation with players, umpires and administrators at all levels of the game, including the
International Cricket Council, the sport’s global governing body. The game had evolved
quickly, requiring six Editions of the 2000 Code to be published in only fifteen years. A new
Code was necessary to rationalise these amendments and to list the Laws in a more logical
format and order. The guiding objectives behind the 2017 changes, evidenced from the
consultation, were to maintain a fair balance between bat and ball, to make the Laws easier to
understand, to safeguard players’ welfare, and to give umpires more mechanisms to address
instances of poor behaviour by players. Those principles have continued to guide this third
edition, in which changes are intended to shape the game of cricket as it should be played,
rather than being reliant on outdated, if long-standing, traditions. With that in mind, for the
first time in 2017, the Laws were written in a gender-neutral format, reflecting, and further
encouraging, the rising popularity of the game amongst women and girls. This edition goes a
step further, replacing the old term ‘batsman’ with the gender-neutral ‘batter’ – reflecting that
cricket is a game for everyone, and that language shapes our behaviours.
The MCC Laws of Cricket provide the framework around which all cricket matches are
based. Individual leagues and governing bodies then add their own playing regulations on
top, amending the Laws to suit the differing needs of, for example, matches in junior cricket,
T20 matches and Test matches. In almost all cases, the fundamentals of the game, such as
scoring runs and taking wickets, remain unchanged in such regulations.
The Laws contained in this book are correct at the time of its publication but the MCC
website (www.lords.org) and Laws of Cricket App provide a digital version which will be
updated with any minor changes, if necessary.
Cricket owes much of its appeal and enjoyment to the fact that it should be played not only
according to the Laws, but also within the Spirit of Cricket.
The major responsibility for ensuring fair play rests with the captains, but extends to all
players, match officials and, especially in junior cricket, teachers, coaches and parents.
Respect is central to the Spirit of Cricket.
Cricket is an exciting game that encourages leadership, friendship and teamwork, which
brings together people from different nationalities, cultures and religions, especially when
played within the Spirit of Cricket.
The players, umpires and scorers in a game of cricket may be of any gender, and the Laws
apply equally. The use, throughout the text, of pronouns expressing a binary he/she is as
inclusive as practicable, whilst retaining clarity. Except where specifically stated otherwise,
every provision of the Laws is to be read as applying to all persons, regardless of gender.
The Governing Body for cricket in the country concerned shall determine the length of the
pitch for junior cricket.
LAW 11 INTERVALS
11.1 An interval
11.1.1 The following shall be classed as intervals:
- The period between close of play on one day and the start of the next day’s play.
- Intervals between innings.
- Intervals for meals.
- Intervals for drinks.
- Any other agreed interval.
11.1.2 Only these intervals shall be considered as scheduled breaks for the purposes of
Law 24.2.6 (Fielder absent or leaving the field of play).
11.2 Duration of intervals
11.2.1 An interval for lunch or tea shall be of the duration determined under Law 2.3
(Consultation with captains), taken from the call of Time before the interval until the
call of Play on resumption after the interval.
11.2.2 An interval between innings shall be 10 minutes, commencing from the close of an
innings until the call of Play for the start of the next innings. See, however, 11.3,
11.5 and 11.6.
LAW 13 INNINGS
13.1 Number of innings
13.1.1 A match shall be one or two innings for each side according to agreement reached
before the match.
LAW 19 BOUNDARIES
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
not 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).
LAW 21 NO BALL
21.1 Mode of delivery
21.1.1 The umpire shall ascertain whether the bowler intends to bowl right-handed or
left-handed, over or round the wicket, and shall so inform the striker.
It is unfair if the bowler fails to notify the umpire of a change in his/her mode of
delivery. In this case the umpire shall call and signal No ball.
21.1.2 Underarm bowling shall not be permitted except by special agreement before the
match.
21.2 Fair delivery – the arm
For a delivery to be fair in respect of the arm the ball must not be thrown.
A ball is fairly delivered in respect of the arm if, once the bowler’s arm has reached the level
of the shoulder in the delivery swing, the elbow joint is not straightened partially or
completely from that instant until the ball has left the hand. This definition shall not debar a
bowler from flexing or rotating the wrist in the delivery swing.
Although it is the primary responsibility of the striker’s end umpire to assess the fairness of
a delivery in this respect, there is nothing in this Law to debar the bowler’s end umpire from
calling and signalling No ball if he/she considers that the ball has been thrown.
21.3 Ball thrown or delivered underarm – action by umpires
21.3.1 After the bowler has entered his/her delivery stride, if in the opinion of either umpire
the ball has been thrown or, unless permitted by agreement in 21.1.2, delivered
underarm, that umpire shall call and signal No ball and, when the ball is dead, inform
the other umpire of the reason for the call.
The bowler’s end umpire shall then
- warn the bowler, indicating that this is a first and final warning. This warning shall
apply to that bowler throughout the innings.
- inform the captain of the fielding side of the reason for this action.
- inform the batters at the wicket of what has occurred.
21.3.2 If either umpire considers that, in that innings, a further delivery by the same bowler is
thrown or, unless permitted by agreement in 21.1.2, delivered underarm, he/she shall
call and signal No ball and when the ball is dead inform the other umpire of the
reason for the call.
The bowler’s end umpire shall then
- direct the captain of the fielding side to suspend the bowler immediately from
bowling. The over shall, if applicable, be completed by another bowler, who shall
neither have bowled the previous over or part thereof nor be allowed to bowl any
part of the next over. The bowler thus suspended shall not bowl again in that
innings.
Laws of Cricket 2017 Code (3rd Edition - 2022) 32
- inform the batters at the wicket and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the
batting side of the reason for this action.
21.3.3 The umpires together shall report the occurrence as soon as possible after the match
to the Executive of the offending side and to any Governing Body responsible for the
match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain,
any other individuals concerned and, if appropriate, the team.
21.4 Bowler throwing towards striker’s end before delivery
If the bowler throws the ball towards the striker’s end before entering the delivery stride, it
is not a No ball and the procedure stated in 21.3 shall not apply. However, the umpire shall
call and signal Dead ball under Law 20.4.2.9.
21.5 Fair delivery – the feet
For a delivery to be fair in respect of the feet, in the delivery stride
21.5.1 the bowler’s back foot must land within and not touching the return crease on the
side of his/her stated mode of delivery.
21.5.2 the bowler’s front foot must land with some part of the foot, whether grounded or
raised
- on the same side of the imaginary line joining the two middle stumps as the return
crease described in 21.5.1, and
- behind the popping crease.
If the bowler’s end umpire is not satisfied that all of these three conditions have been met,
he/she shall call and signal No ball. See Law 41.8 (Bowling of deliberate front foot No ball).
21.6 Bowler breaking wicket in delivering ball
If the ball is delivered and if the non-striker is not dismissed under Law 38.3 (Non-striker
leaving his/her ground early), either umpire shall call and signal No ball if the bowler breaks
the wicket at any time after the ball comes into play and before completion of the stride after
the delivery stride. This shall include any clothing or other object that falls from his/her person
and breaks the wicket. See Appendix A.12. Laws 20.4.2.8, 20.4.2.10 (Umpire calling and
signalling Dead ball) and 21.12 will apply.
21.7 Ball bouncing more than once, rolling along the ground or pitching off the pitch
The umpire shall call and signal No ball if a ball which he/she considers to have been
delivered, without having previously touched bat or person of the striker,
- bounces more than once or rolls along the ground before it reaches the popping crease
or
- pitches wholly or partially off the pitch as defined in Law 6.1 (Area of pitch) before it
reaches the line of the striker’s wicket. When a non-turf pitch is being used, this will
apply to any ball that wholly or partially pitches off the artificial surface.
21.8 Ball causing the striker to leave the pitch, or ball coming to rest in front of striker’s wicket
If a ball delivered by the bowler comes to rest in front of the line of the striker’s wicket or is
so far from the pitch that the striker would need to leave the pitch to attempt to play the ball
(see Law 25.8 – Striker’s right to play the ball), without having previously touched the bat or
person of the striker, the umpire shall call and signal No ball and immediately call and signal
Dead ball.
21.9 Fielder intercepting a delivery
If, except in the circumstances of Law 27.3 (Position of wicket-keeper), a ball delivered by
the bowler makes contact with any part of a fielder’s person before it either makes contact
with the striker’s bat or person, or it passes the striker’s wicket, the umpire shall call and
signal No ball and immediately call and signal Dead ball.
LAW 33 CAUGHT
33.1 Out Caught
The striker is out Caught if a ball delivered by the bowler, not being a No ball, touches his/her
bat without having previously been in contact with any fielder, and is subsequently held by a
fielder as a fair catch, as described in 33.2 and 33.3, before it touches the ground.
33.2 A fair catch
33.2.1 A catch will be fair only if, in every case
either the ball, at any time
or any fielder in contact with the ball,
is not grounded beyond the boundary before the catch is completed. Note Laws 19.4
(Ball grounded beyond the boundary) and 19.5 (Fielder grounded beyond the
boundary).
33.2.2 Furthermore, a catch will be fair if any of the following conditions applies:
33.2.2.1 the ball is held in the hand or hands of a fielder, even if the hand holding the
ball is touching the ground, or is hugged to the body, or lodges in the external
protective equipment worn by a fielder, or lodges accidentally in a fielder’s
clothing.
33.2.2.2 a fielder catches the ball after it has been lawfully struck more than once by
the striker, but only if it has not been grounded since it was first struck. See
Law 34 (Hit the ball twice).
33.2.2.3 a fielder catches the ball after it has touched the wicket, an umpire, another
fielder, a runner or the other batter.
33.2.2.4 a fielder catches the ball after it has crossed the boundary in the air, provided
that the conditions in 33.2.1 are met.
33.2.2.5 the ball is caught off an obstruction within the boundary that is not
designated a boundary by the umpires.
33.3 Making a catch
The act of making a catch shall start from the time when the ball first comes into contact
with a fielder’s person and shall end when a fielder obtains complete control over both the
ball and his/her own movement.
33.4 No runs to be scored
If the striker is dismissed Caught, runs from that delivery completed by the batters before
the completion of the catch shall not be scored but any runs for penalties awarded to either
side shall stand. The non-striker shall return to his/her original end. See Law 18.11 (Batter
returning to original end).
Laws of Cricket 2017 Code (3rd Edition - 2022) 47
33.5 Caught to take precedence
If the criteria of 33.1 are met and the striker is not out Bowled, then he/she is out Caught,
even though a decision against either batter for another method of dismissal would be
justified.
LAW 39 STUMPED
39.1 Out Stumped
39.1.1 The striker is out Stumped, except as in 39.3, if
a ball which is delivered is not called No ball
and he/she is out of his/her ground, other than as in 39.3.1
and he/she has not attempted a run
when his/her wicket is fairly broken by the wicket-keeper without the intervention of
another fielder. Note, however Laws 25.6.2 and 25.6.5 (Dismissal and conduct
of a batter and his/her runner) and 27.3 (Position of wicket-keeper).
39.1.2The striker is out Stumped if all the conditions of 39.1.1 are satisfied, even though a
decision of Run out would be justified.
39.2 Ball rebounding from wicket-keeper’s person
If the wicket is broken by the ball, it shall be regarded as having been broken by the
wicket-keeper if the ball:
rebounds on to the stumps from any part of the wicket-keeper’s person or equipment
or has been kicked or thrown on to the stumps by the wicket-keeper.
39.3 Not out Stumped
39.3.1 The striker will not be out Stumped if, after having received the delivery, he/she has
left his/her ground in order to avoid injury.
39.3.2 If the striker is not out Stumped he/she may, except in the circumstances of Law
38.2.2.2 (Batter not out Run out), be out Run out if the conditions of Law 38.1 (Out
Run out) apply.
Laws of Cricket 2017 Code (3rd Edition - 2022) 52
39.4 Runs Scored
When a striker is dismissed Stumped from a Wide ball, the one-run penalty shall stand.
Note Laws 12.9 (Conclusion of match), 16.6 (Winning hit or extras) and 22.2 (Call and
signal of Wide ball) mean that if the penalty for a Wide concludes the match, then a
stumping is not possible, but the one-run penalty for the Wide remains.
APPENDIX A
DEFINITIONS AND EXPLANATIONS OF WORDS OR PHRASES NOT DEFINED IN THE
TEXT
A.1 The match
A.1.1 The game is used in these Laws as a general term meaning the Game of Cricket.
A.1.2 A match is a single encounter (or contest) between two sides (or teams), played
underthe Laws of Cricket.
A.1.3 The toss is the toss for choice of innings.
A.1.4 Before the toss is at any time before the toss on the day the match is expected to
startor, in the case of a one-day match, on the day the match is due to take place.
A.1.5 Before the match is at any time before the toss, not restricted to the day on which
thetoss is to take place.
A.1.6 During the match is at any time after the toss until the conclusion of the match,
whether play is in progress or not.
A.1.7 Playing time is any time between the call of Play and the call of Time. See Laws 12.1
(Call of Play) and 12.2 (Call of Time).
A.1.8 Conduct of the match includes any action relevant to the match at any time on
anyday of the match.
A.4 Positioning
A.4.1 Behind the popping crease at one end of the pitch is that area of the field of play,
including any other marking, objects and persons therein, that is on that side of the
popping crease that does not include the creases at the opposite end of the pitch.
Behind, in relation to any other marking, object or person, follows the same principle.
See the diagram in A.13.
A.4.2 In front of the popping crease at one end of the pitch is that area of the field of play,
including any other marking, objects and persons therein, that is on that side of the
popping crease that includes the creases at the opposite end of the pitch. In front of, in
relation to any other marking, object or person, follows the same principle. See the
diagram in A.13.
A.4.3 The striker’s end is the place where the striker stands to receive a delivery from the
bowler only insofar as it identifies, independently of where the striker may subsequently
move, one end of the pitch.
A.4.4 The bowler’s end is the end from which the bowler delivers the ball. It is the other end
of the pitch from the striker’s end and identifies that end of the pitch that is not the
striker’s end as described in A.4.3.
A.4.5 The wicket-keeper’s end is the same as the striker’s end as described in A.4.3.
A.4.6 In front of the line of the striker’s wicket is in the area of the field of play in front of
the imaginary line joining the fronts of the stumps at the striker’s end; this line to be
considered extended in both directions to the boundary. See A.4.2.
A.4.7 Behind the wicket is in the area of the field of play behind the imaginary line joining
the backs of the stumps at the appropriate end; this line to be considered extended in
both directions to the boundary. See A.4.1.
A.5 Umpires
A.5.1 Umpire – where the description the umpire is used on its own, it always means ‘the
bowler’s end umpire’ though this full description is sometimes used for emphasis or
clarity. Similarly the umpires always means both umpires. An umpire and umpires
are generalised terms. Otherwise, a fuller description indicates which one of the
umpires is specifically intended. Each umpire will be bowler’s end umpire and striker’s
end umpire in alternate overs.
A.5.2 Bowler’s end umpire is the umpire who is standing at the bowler’s end (see A.4.4)
forthe current delivery.
A.5.3 Striker’s end umpire is the umpire who is standing at the striker’s end (see A.4.3),
toone side of the pitch or the other, depending on his/her choice, for the current
delivery.
A.5.4 Umpires together agree applies to decisions which the umpires are to make jointly,
independently of the players.
A.6 Batters
A.6.1 Batting side is the side currently batting, whether or not play is in progress.
A.6.2 Member of the batting side is one of the players nominated by the captain of the
batting side, or any authorised replacement for such nominated player.
A.6.3 The striker is the batter who receives the ball delivered by the bowler.
A.6.4 The non-striker is the batter whose ground is at the bowler’s end when the ball is
delivered.
A.6.5 A batter’s ground – at each end of the pitch, the whole area of the field of play behind
the popping crease is the ground at that end for a batter.
A.6.6 Original end is the end where a batter was when the ball came into play for that
delivery.
A.6.7 Wicket he/she has left is the wicket at the end where a batter was at the start of the
run in progress.
A.6.8 A batting position is the position and posture adopted by the striker to receive a ball
delivered by the bowler. A normal batting position is one from which a striker could
be reasonably expected to defend his/her wicket.
A.6.9 For the purposes of these Laws, waist height is defined as the point at which the top
of the batter’s trousers would conventionally be when he/she is standing upright at the
popping crease.
A.7 Fielders
A.7.1 Fielding side is the side currently fielding, whether or not play is in progress.
A.7.2 Member of the fielding side is one of the players nominated by the captain of the
fielding side, or any authorised replacement or substitute for such nominated player.
A.7.3 Fielder is one of the 11 or fewer players who together represent the fielding side on
the field of play. This definition includes not only both the bowler and the wicket-keeper
but also nominated players who are legitimately on the field of play, together with
players legitimately acting as substitutes for absent nominated players. It excludes any
nominated player who is absent from the field of play, or who has been absent from the
field of play and who has not yet obtained the umpire’s permission to return.
A.9 Bowlers
A.9.1 Over the wicket/round the wicket – if, as the bowler runs up between the wicket and
the return crease, the wicket is on the same side as his/her bowling arm, he/she is
bowling over the wicket. If the return crease is on the same side as his/her bowling
arm, he/she is bowling round the wicket.
A.9.2 Delivery swing is the motion of the bowler’s arm during which he/she normally
releases the ball for a delivery.
A.9.3 Delivery stride is the stride during which the delivery swing is made, whether the ball
is released or not. It starts when the bowler’s back foot lands for that stride and ends
when the front foot lands in the same stride. The stride after the delivery stride is
completed when the next foot lands, i.e. when the back foot of the delivery stride lands
again.
A.11 Runs
A.11.1 A run to be disallowed is one that in Law should not have been taken. It is not only
to be cancelled but the batters are to be returned to their original ends.
A.11.2 A run not to be scored is one that is not illegal, but is not recognised as a properly
executed run. It is not a run that has been made, so the question of cancellation does
not arise. The loss of the run so attempted is not a disallowance and the batters will not
be returned to their original ends on that account.