Some Useful Extracts From The Laws of Cricket
(2000 Code)
Note: These extracts are a synopsis of the new Laws and are for guidance purposes only; they do not take the place of interpretation of the actual laws

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.

Players Conduct
Captains and umpires together set the tone for conduct of a match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this. In the event of a player failing to comply with the instructions by an umpire, criticising by word or action the umpire's decision, or showing dissent or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into dispute, the umpire will first report the matter to the other umpire and to the player's captain and instruct the captain to take action.

Fair and Unfair Play
The umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play and may intervene at any time in respect of: Time wasting; damaging the pitch; dangerous or unfair bowling; tampering with the ball or any other action deemed unfair; abusive language; cheating or sharp practise and violence. It is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.

Fitness of Ground, Weather and Light
The umpires shall be the final judges of fitness of the ground, weather and light for play during a match.
If at any time the umpires together agree that the condition of the ground, weather or light is not suitable for play, they shall inform the captains (batsmen at the wicket deputise for their captain) and shall suspend play, or not allow play to commence or restart unless:
(1) both captains agree to continue, commence or restart play or
(2) in the case of unsuitable light the batting side wish to continue, commence or restart play.
(a) After agreeing to play in unsuitable ground or weather conditions,
Either captain may appeal against the conditions to the umpires before the next call of Time. The umpires will uphold the appeal only if, in their
opinion, the factors taken into account when making their previous decision are the same or conditions have deteriorated.
(b) After deciding to play in unsuitable light, the captain of the batting side may appeal against the light to the umpires before the next call of Time.
The umpires will uphold the appeal only if in their opinion the factors taken into account when making their previous decision are the same or have further deteriorated.
If at any time the umpires agree that the conditions of ground, weather or light are so bad that there is obvious and foreseeable risk to the safety of player or umpire that would be unreasonable or dangerous for play to take place then notwithstanding the provisions of (1) and (2) above they shall immediately suspend play or not allow play to commence or to restart. The decision as to whether conditions are so bad as to warrant such action is one for the umpires alone to make.

Exceptional Circumstances
The umpires shall have the discretion to implement the procedures above for reasons other than ground, weather or light if they consider that exceptional circumstances warrant it.

Substitutes and Runners
As well as the automatic right to a substitute in case of illness and injury the umpires have discretion during the match to allow a substitute for a fielder, or runner for a batsman at the start of a match or any subsequent time for other wholly acceptable reasons, without needing the consent of the captains.

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, leave the field during play the umpire shall be informed of the reasons for his absence. He shall not thereafter come onto the field during a session of play without the umpires consent.
If he is absent for 15 minutes or longer he shall not be permitted to bowl thereafter until he has been on the field for at least that length of playing time for which he was absent,
If a player does come back onto the field without the umpire's consent and comes into contact with the ball while it is in play, the ball shall immediately become dead. The umpire shall inform the other umpire, and the captains of both sides of the incident and also report the occurrence to the Executive's of the fielding side and the League who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and the player concerned.

The Ball
The ball in use shall be given to the umpire at the fall of each wicket, at the start of any interval and any interruption of play.

The Bat
If as is normal the batsman's hand is gloved then the whole of the glove is to be included as part of the bat. The distinction between above and below the wrist in the event of a catch is no longer significant.

Practice on the Field of Play
There shall be no bowling or batting practice on the pitch on or an area parallel and immediately adjacent to the pitch, or on any other part of the square at any time on the day of the match, except before the start of play. This must not continue later than 30 minutes before the scheduled start time, or if the umpire considers it will be detrimental to the surface of the square.
There shall be no practice on the field of play between the call of play and the call of time if the umpire considers it could result in a waste of time. A player contravening this shall not be allowed to bowl until at least 5 complete overs have been bowled by his side.
No bowler shall have a trial run up between the call of play and the call of time unless the umpire is satisfied it will not cause a waste of time.
Boundaries
Before the toss, the umpires shall agree the boundary of the field with both captains. The boundary shall if possible be marked along its whole length. The boundary shall be agreed so that no part of any sightscreen is within the field of play. If the boundary is a white line the inside edge of the line shall be the boundary edge.

No Ball
The bowlers end umpire shall call and signal no ball if a ball bounces more than twice or rolls along the ground before it reaches the popping crease or if the ball comes to rest in front of the line of the strikers wicket, without having touched the strikers bat or person.
One no ball extra is awarded and it shall be in addition to any other runs scored.

Wide Ball
The ball will be considered as passing wide of the striker unless it is sufficiently within his reach for him to be able to hit it with his bat by means of a normal cricket stroke.
A penalty of one run shall be awarded and shall be in addition of any other runs scored.

Timed Out
The incoming batsman must be in a position to take guard or for his partner to receive the next ball within 3 minutes of the fall of the previous wicket. If this requirement is not met the incoming batsman will (on appeal) be Timed Out.

Run Out
After the bowler has entered his delivery stride he cannot attempt to run out the non-striker who is backing up too far without the intervention of another fielder.

Fair and unfair play
Any fielder may: polish the ball provided no artificial substance is used and that such polishing wastes no time; remove mud from the ball under supervision of the umpire and dry a wet ball on a towel (no sawdust). It is unfair for anyone to rub the ball on the ground for any reason, interfere with any of the seams or surface of the ball, use any implement, or take any other action which is likely to alter the ball's condition.
It is unfair for any member of the fielding side to deliberately attempt to distract the striker while he is preparing to receive a delivery. It is also unfair if the fielding side, by word or action, wilfully attempt to distract or obstruct either batsman after the striker has received the ball.

Bouncers and Beamers
The bowling of fast short-pitched balls is dangerous and unfair, if the umpire at the bowler's end considers that by their repetition and taking into account their height and direction they are likely to inflict physical injury on the striker. The relative skill of the striker shall be taken into consideration.
Any delivery which, after pitching, passes or would have passed over head height of the striker standing upright at the crease, although not threatening physical injury, is unfair and will be considered as part of the repetition sequence of unfair deliveries.
The umpire shall call and signal No Ball for each such delivery.