Cricket · Sport Rules
Laws of Cricket
Laws of Cricket 1 to 42 as Insporta tests them: 6050 sourced facts written from the MCC Laws of Cricket.
Law 1The PlayersLaw 1 covers the size of a side (eleven, or more or fewer by agreement, with never more than eleven fielding), the nomination of players in writing before the toss, replacing a nominated player, the captain and his…1 parts · 5 tests · 50 factsLaw 2The UmpiresLaw 2 covers the appointment and attendance of the umpires, changing an umpire, the meeting with the captains before the toss, the checks on creases, wickets, boundary and equipment, who judges fair and unfair play,…4 parts · 20 tests · 200 factsLaw 3The ScorersLaw 3 covers the appointment of two scorers, what they record, how often they check and agree the scores with the umpires, and their duty to accept and acknowledge the umpires' signals, together with the umpires'…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 4The BallLaw 4 covers the weight and size of the ball for men's, women's and under-13 cricket, the umpires' approval, possession and control of the balls, the new ball at the start of an innings and after 80 overs in a…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 5The BatLaw 5 covers the parts and materials of the bat, its size limits, protection and repair of the blade, damage to the ball, what counts as the ball striking the bat, the categories of bat (Types A to D), and the…3 parts · 15 tests · 150 factsLaw 6The PitchLaw 6 covers the area of the pitch (22 yards by 10 feet, bounded by the bowling creases and by side lines 5 feet from the line joining the middle stumps), the umpires as sole judges of its fitness, its selection and…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 7The CreasesLaw 7 covers the creases marked at each end of the pitch: the bowling crease (8 ft 8 in, the back edge of its marking and the end of the pitch), the popping crease (4 ft in front of it, parallel, marked at least 6 ft…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 8The WicketsLaw 8 covers the two sets of wickets (each 9 inches wide, three wooden stumps and two wooden bails, pitched opposite and parallel in the centres of the bowling creases), the stumps (28 inches high, domed tops, 1.38…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 9Preparation and Maintenance of the Playing AreaLaw 9 covers rolling the pitch (the batting captain's request, 7 minutes, before each innings but the first and each later day, after a delayed start, the choice of roller and the 30 to 10 minute window), clearing…3 parts · 15 tests · 150 factsLaw 10Covering the PitchLaw 10 covers the Ground Authority's use of covers before the match and the inspection facilities for the captains and umpires, covering the pitch on each night and in inclement weather (the whole pitch and at least…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 11IntervalsLaw 11 defines the intervals (overnight, between innings, meals, drinks, any other agreed), their duration, the 10-minute allowance for the interval between innings, changing agreed lunch and tea times, the…3 parts · 15 tests · 150 factsLaw 12Start of Play; Cessation of PlayLaw 12 covers the call of Play and the call of Time, removal of the bails, starting a new over, completing an over before an interval (and the 3-minute exception), the Last hour and its minimum 20 overs, reductions…3 parts · 15 tests · 150 factsLaw 13InningsLaw 13 covers the number of innings (one or two for each side, by agreement), limits of overs or time and the result criteria they need, alternate innings and their exceptions, the five ways an innings is completed,…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 14The Follow-OnLaw 14 gives the side batting first the option of requiring the other side to follow on when it leads by the minimum (200 runs in matches of 5 days or more, 150 in 3 or 4 days, 100 in 2 days, 75 in 1 day), requires…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 15Declaration and ForfeitureLaw 15 lets the captain of the side batting declare an innings closed at any time when the ball is dead, lets a captain forfeit either of the side's innings at any time before it commences (both count as completed…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 16The ResultLaw 16 gives the result of a match: a win in a two-innings or one-innings match, umpires awarding a match (conceding defeat, refusing to play, time lost), a result laid down by an agreement under Law 13.1.2, a Tie or…4 parts · 20 tests · 200 factsLaw 17The OverLaw 17 gives the over: 6 valid balls bowled from each end alternately, when an over has started (run-up or action), which deliveries are valid balls and which do not count (not delivered, dead before the striker…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 18Scoring RunsLaw 18 defines a run and how runs are scored, runs disallowed, short runs (unintentional and deliberate, with the umpire's steps, Penalty runs and report), the Laws for which Penalty runs are awarded, runs when a…4 parts · 20 tests · 200 factsLaw 19BoundariesLaw 19 covers determining the boundary of the field of play before the toss, marking it (white line, object on the ground, marked points, umpires' determination), obstacles and people or animals on the field,…4 parts · 20 tests · 200 factsLaw 20Dead BallLaw 20 lists when the ball becomes dead, when it is considered dead because players stop regarding it as in play, that the umpire alone decides when it is finally settled, that Over and Time are called only when the…4 parts · 20 tests · 200 factsLaw 21No BallLaw 21 sets out the mode of delivery, the fair delivery in respect of the arm (no throwing) and the feet, the umpires' action and suspension for throwing or underarm bowling, breaking the wicket, a ball that bounces…4 parts · 20 tests · 200 factsLaw 22Wide BallLaw 22 sets out how the umpire judges a Wide (wide of where the striker stands or has stood and of a normal stance, within reach of a normal stroke), when Wide ball is called and from when it counts, when the call is…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 23Bye and Leg ByeLaw 23 sets out Byes (runs from a ball that passes the striker without touching bat or person), Leg byes (runs after the ball first strikes the striker's person, when the striker played at it or tried to avoid it),…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 24Fielder's Absence; SubstitutesLaw 24 sets out when the umpires allow a substitute fielder and what a substitute may not do, a nominated player who returns after a substitute has acted, a fielder briefly outside the boundary, what an absent…4 parts · 20 tests · 200 factsLaw 25Batter's Innings; RunnersLaw 25 sets out who may bat or act as a runner, when a batter's innings commences, the restriction on a batter with unserved Penalty time, a batter retiring (Retired - not out and Retired - out, and when a retired…4 parts · 20 tests · 200 factsLaw 26Practice on the FieldLaw 26 sets out the bar on practice on the pitch, practice on the rest of the square only with the umpires' approval, when practice is permitted on the outfield (before and after play, in intervals, and during play…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 27The Wicket-KeeperLaw 27 sets out the wicket-keeper's protective equipment (the only fielder allowed gloves and external leg guards, which count as part of his person), when he forfeits recognition as a keeper, the glove webbing…3 parts · 15 tests · 150 factsLaw 28The FielderLaw 28 sets out the protective equipment of fielders (gloves and external leg guards for the wicket-keeper alone), fielding the ball with the person and the wilful offences with their 5 Penalty runs, the fielding…4 parts · 20 tests · 200 factsLaw 29The Wicket Is BrokenLaw 29 defines when the wicket is broken (a bail completely off the top or a stump out of the ground), the means by which it is broken fairly (the ball, a held bat, a bat not in hand, the striker's person and…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 30Batter Out of His/Her GroundLaw 30 sets out when a batter is out of his ground (nothing of him or his bat grounded behind the popping crease), the protection after a later loss of contact when running or diving, which ground belongs to which…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 31AppealsLaw 31 sets out that an umpire gives no batter out without an appeal by a fielder, how a batter is dismissed, the time limits of an appeal, the appeal How's That?, which umpire answers, consultation between umpires…3 parts · 15 tests · 150 factsLaw 32BowledLaw 32 sets out that the striker is out Bowled when his wicket is broken by a ball delivered by the bowler, not being a No ball, even if the ball first touches his bat or person, that he is not out Bowled if the ball…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 33CaughtLaw 33 sets out when the striker is out Caught (a ball from the bowler, not a No ball, touching his bat and held before the ground), what makes a fair catch (the boundary conditions, holding the ball, balls struck…3 parts · 15 tests · 150 factsLaw 34Hit the Ball TwiceLaw 34 sets out when the striker is out Hit the ball twice (a wilful second strike with bat or person before a fielder touches the ball), the exceptions (returning the ball to a fielder, striking after a fielder…3 parts · 15 tests · 150 factsLaw 35Hit WicketLaw 35 sets out when the striker is out Hit wicket (his wicket broken by his bat or person after the bowler enters the delivery stride and while the ball is in play, in preparing to receive or receiving a delivery,…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 36Leg Before WicketLaw 36 sets out the five circumstances that must all apply for the striker to be out LBW (a ball not being a No ball, pitching in line or on the off side unless intercepted full-pitch, interception by his person…3 parts · 15 tests · 150 factsLaw 37Obstructing the FieldLaw 37 sets out how either batter is out Obstructing the field (a wilful obstruction or distraction of the fielding side by word or action, or the striker wilfully striking the ball with a hand not holding the bat),…3 parts · 15 tests · 150 factsLaw 38Run OutLaw 38 sets out when either batter is out Run out (out of his ground and his wicket fairly broken by a fielder's action or a rebound off a fielder, even on a No ball, whether or not a run is attempted), when he is…4 parts · 20 tests · 200 factsLaw 39StumpedLaw 39 sets out when the striker is out Stumped (a ball not called No ball, out of his ground, no run attempted, his wicket fairly broken by the wicket-keeper without another fielder), that Stumped takes precedence…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 40Timed OutLaw 40 sets out that after the fall of a wicket or a batter's retirement the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball or for the other batter to be ready within three minutes,…2 parts · 10 tests · 100 factsLaw 41Unfair PlayLaw 41 sets out the captains' responsibility for fair play, the umpires as sole judges of unfair actions, the match ball and changing its condition, deliberate distraction of the striker, distraction, deception or…7 parts · 35 tests · 350 factsLaw 42Players' ConductLaw 42 sets out how the umpires act on unacceptable conduct (the Dead ball call, deciding the Level, No ball and Wide calls standing, the captain summoned, lost playing time), the four Levels of offence and the…5 parts · 25 tests · 250 facts
Each guide paraphrases the Law in its own words; the authoritative text is the MCC Laws of Cricket.