Rules
It was in the 18th century only when the procedure of formation of cricket rules began. Though the basic rules, of bat, ball, pitch, wicket, how out, etc had been there since ages, the year 1728 saw ‘Articles of Agreement’ being laid down. It was penned down to establish the code of practice in a particular game, especially in relation to payment of stake money and distribution of gambling winnings. ‘Laws of Cricket’ were formed for the first time in 1744 and saw an amendment 30 years later (1774). Finally, MCC was found at Lord's, in 1787, becoming the custodian of the Laws.
In 2000, the MCC has revised and re-written the Rules of Cricket for the new Millennium. In this Code, the major innovation is the introduction of the Spirit of Cricket as a Preamble to the Laws. Whereas in the past it was assumed that the implicit Spirit of the Game was understood and accepted by all those involved, now MCC feels it right to put into words some clear guidelines, which will help to maintain the unique character and enjoyment of the game.
Fielding
Lord Larry Grayson said "cricket, like chess, is won in the field," and it is certainly true that the strategic positioning of your men on the pitch can make the difference between check and checkmate. However, it is important to remember that fielders mostly stand around doing nothing. The sometimes obscure names for fielding positions are illustrated below.
Bowling
The ball must be thrown from the Knacker's End: the end nearest which the umpire (referee) wearing the Knacker's Hat stands. The ball bounces and the batter must attempt to hit it.
If he fails to hit the ball, the following penalties apply, in order:
First miss: umpire calls 'maiden' and the ball is passed again to the bowler.
Second miss: umpire calls 'over' and one point is given to the opposing team.
Third miss: umpire calls 'bye' and the player must leave.
Players
Number of players A match is played between two sides, each of eleven players, one of whom shall be captain. By agreement a match may be played between sides of more or less than eleven players, but not more than eleven players may field at any time.
Nomination of players Each captain shall nominate his players in writing to one of the umpires before the toss. No player may be changed after the nomination without the consent of the opposing captain.
Number of players If at any time the captain is not available, a deputy shall act for him. (a) If a captain is not available during the period in which the toss is to take place, then the deputy must be responsible for the nomination of the players, if this has not already been done, and for the toss. (b) At any time after the toss, the deputy must be one of the nominated players.
Responsibility of captains The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit and traditions of the game as well as within the Laws.
Substitutes and runners; batsman or fielder leaving the field; batsman :
Substitutes and runners : (a) If the umpires are satisfied that a player has been injured or become ill after the nomination of the players, they shall allow that player to have (i) a substitute acting instead of him in the field. (ii) a runner when batting. Any injury or illness that occurs at any time after the nomination of the players until the conclusion of the match shall be allowable, irrespective of whether play is in progress or not. (b) The umpires shall have discretion, for other wholly acceptable reasons, to allow a substitute for a fielder, or a runner for a batsman, at the start of the match or at any subsequent time. (c) A player wishing to change his shirt, boots, etc. must leave the field to do so. No substitute shall be allowed for him.
Objection to substitutes : The opposing captain shall have no right of objection to any player acting as a substitute on the field, nor as to where the substitute shall field. However, no substitute shall act as wicket-keeper. See 3 below.
Restrictions on the role of substitutes : A substitute shall not be allowed to bat or bowl nor to act as wicket-keeper or as captain on the field of play.
A player for whom a substitute has acted : A player is allowed to bat, bowl or field even though a substitute has previously acted for him.
Fielder absent or leaving the field. If a fielder fails to take the field with his side at the start of the match or at any later time, or leaves the field during a session of play, (a) the umpire shall be informed of the reason for his absence. (b) he shall not thereafter come on to the field during a session of play without the consent of the umpire. See 6 below. The umpire shall give such consent as soon as is practicable. (c) if he is absent for 15 minutes or longer, he shall not be permitted to bowl thereafter, subject to (i), (ii) or (iii) below, until he has been on the field for at least that length of playing time for which he was absent. (i) Absence or penalty for time absent shall not be carried over into a new day's play. (ii) If, in the case of a follow-on or forfeiture, a side fields for two consecutive innings, this restriction shall, subject to (i) above, continue as necessary into the second innings but shall not otherwise be carried over into a new innings. (iii) The time lost for an unscheduled break in play shall be counted as time on the field for any fielder who comes on to the field at the resumption of play.
Runner: The player acting as a runner for a batsman shall be a member of the batting side and shall, if possible, have already batted in that innings. The runner shall wear external protective equipment equivalent to that worn by the batsman for whom he runs and shall carry a bat.
Commencement of a batsman's innings: Except at the start of a side's innings, a batsman shall be considered to have commenced his innings when he first steps on to the field of play, provided Time has not been called. The innings of the opening batsmen, and that of any new batsman at the resumption of play after a call of Time, shall commence at the call of Play.
Ways of Being Out
There are in total seven ways of being out, or dismissed:
When the umpire calls 'bye' (explained above).
When the ball is caught by an opposing fielder before it has touched the ground, but after it has been knocked by any part of the batter (including the bat) other than the extra legs (below the navel) or the eyes.
When the player is adjudged to be wasting time (taking more than 24 hours between consecutive bowls).
When the player hits the ball twice, unless doing it to protect his wicket or testicles.
When the umpire calls 'leg before wicket'. This is a complex rule, explained below.
When player, bat and ball remain static, at the discretion of the umpire. This rule was introduced in 1983 after a cardboard cut-out of Ian Botham played for seventeen hours. (Does not apply in wet weather.)
"When the ball, after being bowled, hits the wicket and knocks it over (rare).
Leg Before Wicket
This rule was introduced when players realised that it was more productive to kick the ball rather than play it using the bat, because no-one may be caught out thereby (rule 2 above).
The following criteria must be satisfied for LBW to be called (see diagrammatograph):
The line of the leg-stump (the path of the ball) must intersect with the player's leg, groin or knee
The ball must bounce once before rising upwards, and must be heading towards the middle wicket, taking account of the direction it is spinning.
The player's groin must be facing the knacker's edge in the case of a full toss (cock inwards, as in a).
In the case of g, where the ball pitches (bounces) outside the edge of an imaginary line drawn between cock and knee (b), it must be following a path towards the opposite side (left (right) side from the batsman's point of view).
If the ball pitches inside the edge of an imaginary line drawn between top of bat and bottom of forward foot (shown back-to-front in c), player is out only if the ball goes on to hit opposite leg.
Drawing e shows the reverse case. This is not-out because the forward foot remains within leg-stump and well behind pitch point.
If the batsman makes an attempt to hit the ball as in d and f, and rule 6 above applies, player is out in any case.
If the ball pitches twice, and the second pitch lands in the fourth dimension (f), rule 8 applies whether the batter attempts a knock-on, full-swipe or pixie-flick.
