1. Protective equipment
No member of the fielding side 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.
2. Fielding the ball
A fielder may field the ball with any part of his person
but if, while the ball is in play he wilfully fields
it otherwise,
(a) the ball shall become dead and 5 penalty runs shall
be awarded to the batting side. See Law 42.17 (Penalty
runs).
(b) the umpire shall inform the other umpire, the captain
of the fielding side, the batsmen and, as soon as practicable,
the captain of the batting side of what has occurred.
(c) the umpires together shall report the occurrence
as soon as possible to the Executive of the fielding
side and any Governing Body responsible for the match
who shall take such action as is considered appropriate
against the captain and player concerned.
3. Protective helmets belonging to the fielding
side
Protective helmets, when not in use by fielders, shall
only be placed, if above the surface, on the ground
behind the wicket-keeper and in line with both sets
of stumps. If a helmet belonging to the fielding side
is on the ground within the field of play, and the ball
while in play strikes it, the ball shall become dead.
5 penalty runs shall then be awarded to the batting
side. See Laws 18.11 (Runs scored when ball becomes
dead) and 42.17 (Penalty runs).
4. Penalty runs not to be awarded
Notwithstanding 2 and 3 above, if from the delivery
by the bowler the ball first struck the person of the
striker and if, in the opinion of the umpire, the striker
neither (i) attempted to play the ball with his bat,
nor (ii) tried to avoid being hit by the ball, then
no award of 5 penalty runs shall be made and no other
runs or penalties shall be credited to the batting side
except the penalty for a No ball if applicable. See
Law 26.3 (Leg byes not to be awarded).
5. 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 person, whether grounded or in the
air, is in front of this line.
In the event of infringement of this Law by the fielding
side, the umpire at the striker's end shall call and
signal No ball.
6. Fielders not to encroach on the pitch
While the ball is in play and until the ball has made
contact with the bat or person of the striker, or has
passed the striker's bat, no fielder, other than the
bowler, may have any part of his 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 umpire at the bowler's
end shall call and signal No ball as soon as possible
after the delivery of the ball. Note, however, Law 40.3
(Position of wicket-keeper).
7. Movement by fielders
Any significant movement by any fielder after the ball
comes into play and before the ball reaches the striker
is unfair. In the event of such unfair movement, either
umpire shall call and signal Dead ball. Note also the
provisions of Law 42.4 (Deliberate attempt to distract
striker).
8. Definition of significant movement
(a) For close fielders anything other than minor adjustments
to stance or position in relation to the striker is
significant.
(b) In the outfield, fielders are permitted to move
in towards the striker or striker's wicket, provided
that 5 above is not contravened. Anything other than
slight movement off line or away from the striker is
to be considered significant.
(c) For restrictions on movement by the wicket-keeper
see Law 40.4 (Movement by wicket-keeper). |