1. The boundary of the field of
play
(a) Before the toss, the umpires shall agree the boundary
of the field of play with both captains. The boundary
shall if possible be marked along its whole length.
(b) The boundary shall be agreed so that no part of
any sight-screen is within the field of play.
(c) An obstacle or person within the field of play shall
not be regarded as a boundary unless so decided by the
umpires before the toss. See Law 3.4(ii) (To inform
captains and scorers).
2. Defining the boundary - boundary marking
(a) Wherever practicable the boundary shall be marked
by means of a white line or a rope laid along the ground.
(b) If the boundary is marked by a white line,
(i) the inside edge of the line shall be the boundary
edge.
(ii) a flag, post or board used merely to highlight
the position of a line marked on the ground must be
placed outside the boundary edge and is not itself to
be regarded as defining or marking the boundary. Note,
however, the provisions of (c) below.
(c) If a solid object is used to mark the boundary,
it must have an edge or a line to constitute the boundary
edge.
(i) For a rope, which includes any similar object of
curved cross section lying on the ground, the boundary
edge will be the line formed by the innermost points
of the rope along its length.
(ii) For a fence, which includes any similar object
in contact with the ground, but with a flat surface
projecting above the ground, the boundary edge will
be the base line of the fence.
(d) If the boundary edge is not defined as in (b) or
(c) above, the umpires and captains must agree, before
the toss, what line will be the boundary edge. Where
there is no physical marker for a section of boundary,
the boundary edge shall be the imaginary straight line
joining the two nearest marked points of the boundary
edge.
(e) If a solid object used to mark the boundary is disturbed
for any reason during play, then if possible it shall
be restored to its original position as soon as the
ball is dead. If this is not possible, then
(i) if some part of the fence or other marker has come
within the field of play, that portion is to be removed
from the field of play as soon as the ball is dead.
(ii) the line where the base of the fence or marker
originally stood shall define the boundary edge.
3. Scoring a boundary
(a) A boundary shall be scored and signalled by the
umpire at the bowler's end whenever, while the ball
is in play, in his opinion
(i) the ball touches the boundary, or is grounded beyond
the boundary.
(ii) a fielder, with some part of his person in contact
with the ball, touches the boundary or has some part
of his person grounded beyond the boundary.
(b) The phrases 'touches the boundary' and 'touching
the boundary' shall mean contact with
either (i) the boundary edge as defined in 2 above
or (ii) any person or obstacle within the field of play
which has been designated a boundary by the umpires
before the toss.
(c) The phrase 'grounded beyond the boundary' shall
mean contact with
either (i) any part of a line or a solid object marking
the boundary, except its boundary edge
or (ii) the ground outside the boundary edge
or (iii) any object in contact with the ground outside
the boundary edge.
4. Runs allowed for boundaries
(a) Before the toss, the umpires shall agree with both
captains the runs to be allowed for boundaries. In deciding
the allowances, the umpires and captains shall be guided
by the prevailing custom of the ground.
(b) Unless agreed differently under (a) above, the allowances
for boundaries shall be 6 runs if the ball having been
struck by the bat pitches beyond the boundary, but otherwise
4 runs. These allowances shall still apply even though
the ball has previously touched a fielder. See also
(c) below.
(c) The ball shall be regarded as pitching beyond the
boundary and 6 runs shall be scored if a fielder
(i) has any part of his person touching the boundary
or grounded beyond the boundary when he catches the
ball.
(ii) catches the ball and subsequently touches the boundary
or grounds some part of his person beyond the boundary
while carrying the ball but before completing the catch.
See Law 32 (Caught).
5. Runs scored
When a boundary is scored,
(a) the penalty for a No ball or a Wide, if applicable,
shall stand together with any penalties under any of
Laws 2.6 (Player returning without permission), 18.5(b)
(Deliberate short runs) or 42 (Fair and unfair play)
that apply before the boundary is scored.
(b) the batting side, except in the circumstances of
6 below, shall additionally be awarded whichever is
the greater of
(i) the allowance for the boundary.
(ii) the runs completed by the batsmen, together with
the run in progress if they have crossed at the instant
the boundary is scored.
When these runs exceed the boundary allowance, they
shall replace the boundary for the purposes of Law 18.12
(Batsman returning to wicket he has left).
6. Overthrow or wilful act of fielder
If the boundary results either from an overthrow or
from the wilful act of a fielder the runs scored shall
be
(i) the penalty for a No ball or a Wide, if applicable,
and penalties under any of Laws 2.6 (Player returning
without permission), 18.5(b) (Deliberate short runs)
or 42 (Fair and unfair play) that are applicable before
the boundary is scored and
(ii) the allowance for the boundary
and (iii) the runs completed by the batsmen, together
with the run in progress if they have crossed at the
instant of the throw or act.
Law 18.12(a) (Batsman returning to wicket he has left)
shall apply as from the instant of the throw or act. |