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LAW 2 8
T H E F IE LDER
P LAYERS, SU BS T IT UT ES , R UN N E R S A ND P R AC T I C E
T HE LAW
28.1
28.1 Protective
Protective equipment
equipment
No fielder other than the wicket-keeper shall be
permitted to wear gloves or external leg guards. In
addition, protection for the hand or fingers may be
worn only with the consent of the umpires.
28.2
28.2 Fielding
Fielding the
the ball
ball
28.2.1
28.2.1 A fielder may field the ball with any part of
his/her person (see Appendix
Appendix A A.12), except as in
28.2.1.2. However, he/she will be deemed to have
fielded the ball illegally if, while the ball is in play
he/she wilfully
28.2.1.1 uses anything other than part of his/her
person to field the ball.
28.2.1.2 extends his/her clothing with his/her hands
and uses this to field the ball.
28.2.1.3 discards a piece of clothing, equipment or
any other object which subsequently makes
contact with the ball.
28.2.2 It is not illegal fielding if the ball in play
makes contact with a piece of clothing, equipment
or any other object which has accidentally fallen
from the fielder’s person, or been dropped by an
umpire.
28.2.3 If a fielder illegally fields the ball, the ball shall
immediately become dead and
- the penalty for a No ball or a Wide shall stand.
- any runs completed by the batter shall be credited
to the batting side, together with the run in
progress if the batters had already crossed at the
instant of the offence.
- the ball shall not count as one of the over.
In addition the umpire shall
- award 5 Penalty runs to the batting side.
- inform the other umpire and the captain of the
fielding side of the reason for this action.
- inform the batters and, as soon as practicable, the
captain of the batting side of what has occurred.
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.
28.3 Protective helmets belonging to the
fielding side
28.3.1 Protective helmets, when not in use by
fielders, may not be placed on the ground, above
the surface except behind the wicket-keeper and in
line with both sets of stumps.
28.3.2 If the ball while in play strikes the protective
helmet, placed as described in 28.3.1, the ball shall
immediately become dead and, unless 28.3.3
applies:
- the umpire shall signal No ball or Wide to the
scorers, if applicable
- the umpire shall award 5 Penalty runs to the
batting side
- any runs completed by the batters before the ball
strikes the protective helmet shall be scored,
together with the run in progress if the batters had
already crossed at the instant of the ball striking the
protective helmet.
28.3.3 If the ball while in play strikes a helmet, placed
as described in 28.3.1 and the circumstances of Law
23.3 (Leg byes not to be awarded), 25.7 (Restriction
on the striker’s runner) or Law 34 (Hit the ball twice)
apply, the umpire shall
- disallow all runs to the batting side
- return any not out batter to his/her original end
- signal No ball or Wide ball to the scorers if
applicable
- award any 5-run Penalty that is applicable except
for Penalty runs under 28.3.2.
28.4 Limitation of on side fielders
At the instant of the bowler’s delivery there shall
not be more than two fielders, other than the
wicket-keeper, behind the popping crease on the
on side. A fielder will be considered to be behind
the popping crease unless the whole of his/her
person whether grounded or in the air is in front of
this line.
In the event of infringement of this Law by any
fielder, the striker’s end umpire shall call and signal
No ball.
28.5 Fielders not to encroach on pitch
While the ball is in play and until the ball has made
contact with the striker’s bat or person, or has
passed the striker’s bat, no fielder, other than the
bowler, may have any part of his/her person
grounded on or extended over the pitch.
In the event of infringement of this Law by any
fielder other than the wicket-keeper, the bowler’s
end umpire shall call and signal No ball as soon as
possible after delivery of the ball. Note, however,
Law 27.3 (Position of wicket-keeper).
28.6 Movement by any fielder other than
the wicket-keeper
28.6.1 Any movement by any fielder, excluding the
wicket-keeper, after the ball comes into play and
before the ball reaches the striker, is unfair except
for the following:
28.6.1.1 minor adjustments to stance or position in
relation to the striker’s wicket.
28.6.1.2 movement by any fielder, other than a close
fielder, towards the striker or the striker’s wicket
that does not significantly alter the position of the
fielder.
28.6.1.3 movement by any fielder in response to the
stroke that the striker is playing or that his/her
actions suggest he/she intends to play.
28.6.2 In all circumstances Law 28.4 (Limitation of
on side fielders) shall apply.
28.6.3 In the event of such unfair movement, either
umpire shall call and signal Dead ball and inform
the other umpire of the reason for doing so. The
bowler’s end umpire shall then:
28.6.3.1 award the one-run penalty for Wide or No
ball, if applicable
28.6.3.2 award 5 Penalty runs to the batting side
28.6.3.3 inform the captain of the fielding side of the
reason for this action.
28.6.3.4 inform the batters and, as soon as
practicable, the captain of the batting side of what
has occurred.
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.
28.6.4
28.6.4 Note also the provisions of Law 41.4
(Deliberate attempt to distract striker). See also
Law 27.4 (Movement by wicket-keeper).
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