Cricket Umpiring Law Review 37 Law 37 Incorporating

Cricket Umpiring Law Review 37 Law 37 Incorporating the MCC Laws of Cricket 2000 code - 4 th edition 2010

Order of precedence of dismissals Law & How out 30 - Bowled 32 - Caught Which umpire Bowler’s end Credit to off a No-ball Bowler & Fielder No No off a Wide Impossible The following are more likely to occur in the order of events … 36 – L B W 35 - Hit-wicket 39 - Stumped 34 - Hit the ball twice 33 - Handled the ball 37 - Obstruction 38 - Run-out Bowler’s end Striker’s end Bowler’s end Respective end Bowler & Keeper Fielder No No No Yes Yes Impossible Yes Yes Yes - - These can occur at any time … 31 - Timed-out 2. 9 - Retired 2 Bowler’s end - We will look now at Law 37 – Obstructing the field

Law 37 – Obstructing the field To consider that a fielder has been obstructed. . . the obstruction must be Wilful The obstruction can be by word by deed something said a physical act If in doubt the umpires should consult and agree A batsman may not return the ball to a fielder without consent If he does so and consent is NOT been given or implied On Appeal the umpire must dismiss the offender Obstructing the field RECORD the event for the scorers in your note book

Obstructing the field Which batsman is out ? He who obstructs the fielder is dismissed unless … the obstruction prevents a catch then it is ALWAYS the striker who is dismissed even if he is the non-offender The fact that he may be an innocent party is irrelevant If the striker legally hits the ball twice and in doing so he obstructs a catch On Appeal. . . he must be dismissed Obstructing the field The degree of difficulty of the catch must NOT be considered

Obstructing the field Runs scored when an obstruction occurs. . . All runs … completed before an obstruction are scored The same as for a Run-out Plus … any NO-BALL or WIDE called & signalled any Penalty runs awarded However … if the obstruction prevents a catch being taken no runs are scored The bowler gains no credit for this dismissal

Scorer requirements During the next interval the umpires must confirm with the scorers all dismissals This batsman faced 50 balls including those called NO-BALLs, Byes & Leg-byes He was at the crease for 45 minutes and scored 37 runs NO-ONE is credited with this dismissal 50 6 45 - Obstructing the a catch field 37 If the obstruction prevented a catch it should record

These modules were written & produced for New Zealand Cricket by the New Zealand Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association 7 © 2010 NZC-NZCUSA