RESEARCH QUESTIONS
ON
THE LAWS OF CRICKET
RESEARCH QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED BETWEEN MEETINGS AND HANDBOOKS & LAW BOOKS ARE TO BROUGHT TO ALL MEETINGS.
A VITAL ASPECT OF IMPROVING AND DEVELOPING AS AN UMPIRE IS TO STUDY THE LAWS OF CRICKET AND UNDERSTAND THEIR APPLICATION
“There is no such thing as interpretation of the Laws of Cricket, only application.”
Answer all questions citing the relevant Laws and use quotes from the Laws to justify your answer.
Example Question.
If a captain is not available at the appropriate time, another person has to ensure that the list of nominated players is given to an umpire. There are no restrictions on who this other person is. However, once the nomination is completed, must it be someone on the list who actually tosses?
Answer
NO
Law 1.3 stipulates that “at any time after the toss , the deputy must be one of the nominated players.”Therefore the Deputy must be one of the nominated players although another person who is not nominated gave the umpires the team list and tossed. While the toss is actually being made is not ‘after the toss’.
Law reference 1.3
Answers to Questions 1 – 5 must be completed and brought to the OCTOBER Meeting
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Laws 1 to 4 - The Players and Officials
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Question1.
If a captain is not available at the appropriate time, another person has to ensure that the list of nominated players is given to an umpire. There are no restrictions on who this other person is. However, once the nomination is completed, must it be someone on the list who actually tosses? This is answered above in the example question, however if this other person is not on the list of nominated players can he decide to bat or bowl if he wins the toss?
Answer
Question2.
There is an interruption during a fielder’s absence. How does this affect the time he has to wait before being allowed to bowl after his return?
Answer
Question3.
An injured striker has a runner. The runner remains within his ground at the striker’s end, but the injured striker and the non-striker both run, and both make good the ground at the opposite end. Should this run be allowed?
Answer
Question4.
The umpires pronounced the pitch unfit but, when the captains insisted, allowed play to take
place under Law 3.9 (b). How can the umpires be the final judges of the fitness of the ground,
weather and light for play as stated in Law 3.8, if Law 3.9 allows the captains nevertheless to
decide whether play is to take place or not?
Answer
Question5.
If there has been an interruption of play because of rain, can play be resumed while it is still
raining? Could a match be started in rain?
Answer
Answers to Questions 1 – 7 must be completed and brought to the NOVEMBER Meeting
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Laws 5 to 11 - The Field of Play & Implements of the Game
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Question1.
What happens if a ball hit by the striker splits in two on impact, one part remaining within the
field of play, the other carrying on over the boundary?
Answer
Question2.
If a batsman is not wearing gloves how does this affect the possibility of his being caught?
Answer
Question3.
The umpires decide that the condition of the pitch makes it dangerous for play to continue.
Another pitch is available and the captains agree to play on that. In these circumstances is
play resumed or does the match start again?
Answer
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Laws 12 to 17 - The Structure of the Game
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Question4.
What should happen if
(a) the side batting first does not have sufficient lead to enforce the follow-on but
subsequently penalty runs are added to its score bringing it up to the required total?
(b) the side batting first enforces the follow-on and subsequently penalty runs are awarded
to the other side, reducing the difference between the sides’ scores to less than the level
required for the follow-on?
Answer
Question5.
May a captain declare an innings closed before it has started?
Answer
Question6.
Should, as in some other Laws, the retirement of a batsman count as the fall of a wicket in
applying Law 15.8, governing postponement of the tea interval?
Answer
Question7.
Law 16.10 instructs that “the over in progress at the close of play shall be completed
unless. . . . .” Two exceptions are then stated. In other words, “with two exceptions, an over
is not to be left unfinished at the end of a match.” Explain what they are.
Answer
Answers to Questions 1 – 6 must be completed and brought to the DECEMBER Meeting
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Laws 18 to 21 & 26 - Scoring Runs; the Result of a Match
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Question1.
The batsmen run a single on the last ball of an over. The striker unintentionally just fails to make good his ground at the bowler’s end, and starts to walk unhurriedly towards his partner
for a chat. It is clear that both sides regard the ball as dead. Before calling Over, should the
umpire call and signal Short run?
Answer
Question2.
Law 27.9 indicates that an umpire may alter his decision providing he does so promptly. Law
21.10 indicates, however, that once the umpires have agreed the scores at the end of a
match, they cannot be changed. What is the situation if, although the umpires and scorers
agree the scores, it is later discovered that some mistake in the course of the match has led
to an incorrect result?
Answer
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Laws 22 to 25 – The Bowler Delivering the Ball
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Question3.
The Laws now clearly distinguish between a batsman being out and his being dismissed.
Does that mean that if, for instance, there is a run out, the ball remains in play between the
breaking of the wicket and the umpire giving his decision?
Answer
Question4.
The bowler delivers the ball fairly but wide of the wicket. What is the situation if, before
reaching the line of the striker’s wicket, the ball is
(a) caught by a fielder, who then throws the ball to put down either wicket, with the
batsman out of his ground. Is the batsman run out?
(b) deflected by a fielder on to either wicket with the batsman out of his ground. Is the
batsman out?
(c) deflected by a fielder but not on to a wicket? Could the batsmen run?
Answer
Question5.
A batsman makes no attempt to play the ball with his bat, nor does he try to avoid being hit by
the ball. It is clear that, under Law 26, Leg byes will not be allowed. Can the striker be credited
with runs, however, if the ball after hitting the pad then comes into contact with his bat?
Answer
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Laws 27 to 29 - Conditions Affecting Dismissals
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Question6.
Law 28 states that the wicket is put down if a bail is removed (etc) by the striker’s bat, he is holding it or has let go of it. Are there any restrictions on how this applies? For instance if in trying to field the ball a fielder accidentally kicks a dropped bat on to the wicket, thus removing the bails, has the wicket been put down, so that a batsman could be run out.
Answer
Answers to Questions 1 – 7 must be completed and brought to the JANUARY Meeting
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Laws 30 to 39 – Dismissals
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Question1.
If the umpires leave the field to investigate the non-appearance of a new batsman after the fall
of a wicket, does this come under the heading of “leaving his normal position for consultation”,
requiring Dead ball to be called?
Answer
Question2.
If the ball first hits the pad, then the ground and then the bat, can the striker be out Caught?
Answer
Question3.
Law 33.2(i) states that a batsman is not out if he handles the ball in order to avoid injury. If he
does this, and runs are then taken, would they be allowed and if so, how should they be scored?
Answer
Question4.
The striker lawfully hits the ball twice. There is an overthrow, but not until after the batsmen
have started running. They complete one run. If they had crossed before the overthrow, no
runs will count. Should they be sent back to their original ends in this case?
Answer
Question5.
As the striker plays the ball, a sizeable chunk of his bat breaks off, flies back and dislodges a
bail. Is he out?
Answer
Question6.
What happens if the non-striker, holding his gloves, drops one of them and the ball in play
touches it?
Answer
Question7.
The striker’s wicket is put down by the wicket-keeper, or directly from the bowler’s delivery,
while he is out of his ground but not attempting a run. What difference does it make to the
striker’s dismissal if the bowler released the ball
(a) during his delivery stride?
(b) before entering his delivery stride?
Answer
Answers to Questions 1 – 6 must be completed and brought to the FEBRUARY Meeting
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Laws 40 & 41 – Fielders & Fielding
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Question1.
Can a team play without a wicket-keeper?
Answer
Question2.
Please explain the difference between a helmet and a cap in the various situations that can
arise if the fielder is not wearing these items.
Answer
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Law 42 & The Preamble – Fair & Unfair Play/ The Spirit of the Game
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Question3.
How does an umpire decide whether a delivery is ‘a slow delivery’ if a slow bowler bowls a
faster ball, or conversely, a fast bowler bowls a slower ball?
Answer
Question4.
There seems to be a contradiction in Law 42.6. The first paragraph explains that the umpire
must consider whether fast short pitched balls are likely to cause injury. He is not to take
action until he decides that there has been too much repetition of such balls. The second
paragraph, however, says he is to take action at once for any ball which bounces over head
height, so obviously can’t cause injury. Can you please explain?
Answer
Question5.
A bowler fails to release the ball in his delivery stride. The umpire calls Dead ball. The bowler
continues running, however, and runs on to the protected area. Has he breached Law 42.12?
Answer
Question6.
In talking of damage caused by fielders or batsmen, why is the word ‘pitch’ used, rather than
‘protected area’
Answer