| The Marylebone Cricket Club is the framer of the | | | | in the middle of, is drawn at each end of the pitch so |
| Laws of Cricket, the rules governing play of the | | | | that the three stumps in the set of stumps at that |
| game. The Laws are intended to apply to all two | | | | end of the pitch fall on it (and consequently it is |
| innings matches; the International Cricket Council has | | | | perpendicular to the imaginary line joining the centres |
| implemented "Standard Playing Conditions for Test | | | | of both middle stumps). Each bowling crease should |
| Matches" and "Standard Playing Conditions for One | | | | be 8 feet 8 inches (2.64 metres) in length, centred |
| Day Internationals" to augment the Laws of Cricket. | | | | on the middle stump at each end, and each bowling |
| Similarly, each cricketing country has implemented | | | | crease terminates at one of the return creases. The |
| Playing Conditions to govern domestic cricket. Note | | | | popping crease, which determines whether a |
| that the Laws do not provide for One Day or Limited | | | | batsman is in his ground or not, and which is used in |
| Overs cricket; these modifications have been made | | | | determining front-foot no balls (see law 24), is drawn |
| by the Playing Conditions for One Day Internationals. | | | | at each end of the pitch in front of each of the two |
| The Laws are organised into a Preface, a Preamble, | | | | sets of stumps. The popping crease must be 4 feet |
| forty-two Laws, and four appendices. The Preface | | | | (1.22 m) in front of and parallel to the bowling crease. |
| relates to the Marylebone Cricket Club and the | | | | Although it is considered to have unlimited length, the |
| history of the Laws. The Preamble is a new addition | | | | popping crease must be marked to at least 6 feet |
| and is related to "the Spirit of the Game;" it was | | | | (1.83 metres) on either side of the imaginary line |
| introduced to discourage the increasing practices of | | | | joining the centres of the middle stumps. The return |
| ungentlemanly conduct. The Laws themselves deal | | | | creases, which are the lines a bowler must be within |
| with the following: | | | | when making a delivery, are drawn on each side of |
| The first four laws cover the players, the umpires | | | | each set of the stumps, along each sides of the pitch |
| and the scorers. | | | | (so there are four return creases in all, one on either |
| Law 1: The players. A cricket team consists of eleven | | | | side of both sets of stumps). The return creases lie |
| players, including a captain. Outside of official | | | | perpendicular to the popping crease and the bowling |
| competitions, teams can agree to play more than | | | | crease, 4 feet 4 inches (1.32 m) either side of and |
| eleven-a-side, though no more than eleven players | | | | parallel to the imaginary line joining the centres of the |
| may field. | | | | two middle stumps. Each return crease terminates at |
| Law 2: Substitutes. In cricket, a substitute may be | | | | one end at the popping crease but the other end is |
| brought on for an injured fielder. However, a | | | | considered to be unlimited in length and must be |
| substitute may not bat, bowl or keep wicket. The | | | | marked to a minimum of 8 feet (2.44 m) from the |
| original player may return if he has recovered. A | | | | popping crease. |
| batsman who becomes unable to run may have a | | | | Law 10: Preparation and maintenance of the playing |
| runner, who completes the runs while the batsman | | | | area. In cricket, when a ball is bowled it almost |
| continues batting. Alternatively, a batsman may retire | | | | always bounces on the pitch, and how the ball |
| hurt or ill, and may return later to resume his innings if | | | | behaves depends very much on the condition of the |
| he recovers. | | | | pitch. Therefore detailed rules on the pitch itself are |
| Law 3: The umpires. There are two umpires, who | | | | necessary. This law sets down rules governing how |
| apply the Laws, make all necessary decisions, and | | | | pitches should be prepared, mown, rolled, etc. |
| relay the decisions to the scorers. | | | | Law 11: Covering the pitch. Covering the pitch affects |
| Law 4: The scorers. There are two scorers who | | | | how the ball will react when it bounces on it. For |
| respond to the umpires' signals and keep the score. | | | | example, a ball bouncing on wet ground will react |
| Equipment and laying out the pitch | | | | differently to one bouncing on hard ground. In |
| After dealing with the players, the laws move on to | | | | general, a wet pitch will have uneven bounce, a dry |
| discuss equipment and pitch specifications, except for | | | | pitch won't. The laws stipulate that the regulations on |
| specifications about the wicket-keeper's gloves, | | | | covering the pitch shall be agreed in advance. |
| which are dealt with in Law 40. These laws are | | | | Bowlers' run-ups also need to be dry to reduce the |
| supplemented by Appendices A and B (see below). | | | | chances that they will slip. The laws therefore require |
| Law 5: The ball. A cricket ball is between 22.4cm and | | | | these to be covered wherever possible when there |
| 22.9cm in circumference, and weighs between 155.9g | | | | is wet weather. |
| and 163g. Only one ball is used at a time, unless it is | | | | Structure of the game |
| lost, when it is replaced with a ball of similar wear. It | | | | Laws 12 to 17 outline the structure of the game. |
| is also replaced at the start of each innings, and may, | | | | Law 12: Innings. Before the game the teams agree |
| at the request of the fielding side, be replaced after | | | | whether it is to be over one or two innings, and |
| a certain number of overs have been bowled (80 in | | | | whether either or both innings are to be limited by |
| Test matches). The gradual degradation of the ball | | | | time or by overs. In two-innings games, the sides bat |
| through the innings is an important aspect of the | | | | alternately unless the follow-on (law 13) is enforced. |
| game. | | | | An innings is closed once all batsmen are dismissed, |
| Law 6: The bat. The bat is no more than 38 inches | | | | no further batsmen are fit to play, the innings is |
| (96.5cm) in length, and no more than 4.25 inches | | | | declared or forfeited by the batting captain, or any |
| (10.8cm) wide. The hand or glove holding the bat is | | | | agreed time or over limit is reached. The captain |
| considered part of the bat. Ever since a highly | | | | winning the toss of a coin decides whether to bat or |
| publicised marketing attempt by Dennis Lillee, who | | | | to bowl first. |
| brought out an aluminium bat during an international | | | | Law 13: The follow-on. In a two innings match, if the |
| game, the laws have provided that the blade of the | | | | side batting second scores substantially fewer runs |
| bat must be made of wood (and in practice, they | | | | than the side batting first, the side that batted first |
| are made from White Willow wood). | | | | can force their opponents to bat again immediately. |
| Law 7: The pitch. The pitch is a rectangular area of | | | | For a game of five or more days, the side batting |
| the ground 22 yards (20.12m) long and 10ft (3.05m) | | | | first must be at least 200 runs ahead to enforce the |
| wide. The Ground Authority selects and prepares the | | | | follow-on; for a three- or four-day game, 150 runs; |
| pitch, but once the game has started, the umpires | | | | for a two-day game, 100 runs; for a one-day game, |
| control what happens to the pitch. The umpires are | | | | 75 runs. The length of the game is determined by |
| also the arbiters of whether the pitch is fit for play, | | | | the number of scheduled days play left when the |
| and if they deem it unfit, with the consent of both | | | | game actually begins. |
| captains can change the pitch. Professional cricket is | | | | Law 14: Declaration and forfeiture. The batting |
| almost always played on a grass surface. However, if | | | | captain can declare an innings closed at any time |
| a non-turf pitch is used, the artificial surface must | | | | when the ball is dead. He may also forfeit his innings |
| have a minimum length of 58ft (17.68m) and a | | | | before it has started. |
| minimum width of 6ft (1.83m). | | | | Law 15: Intervals. There are intervals between each |
| Law 8: The wickets. The wicket consists of three | | | | day's play, a ten-minute interval between innings, and |
| wooden stumps that are 28 inches (71.1cm) tall. The | | | | lunch, tea and drinks intervals. The timing and length |
| stumps are placed along the batting crease with | | | | of the intervals must be agreed before the match |
| equal distances between each stump. They are | | | | begins. There are also provisions for moving the |
| positioned so they are 9 inches (22.86cm) wide. Two | | | | intervals and interval lengths in certain situations, |
| wooden bails are placed on top of the stumps. The | | | | most notably the provision that if nine wickets are |
| bails must not project more than 0.5 inches (1.27cm) | | | | down, the tea interval is delayed to the earlier of the |
| above the stumps, and must, for men's cricket, be | | | | fall of the next wicket and 30 minutes elapsing. |
| 4.3125 inches (10.95cm) long. There are also specified | | | | Law 16: Start of play; cessation of play. Play after an |
| lengths for the barrel and spigots of the bail. There | | | | interval commences with the umpire's call of "Play", |
| are different specifications for the wickets and bails | | | | and at the end of a session by "Time". The last hour |
| for junior cricket. The umpires may dispense with the | | | | of a match must contain at least 20 overs, being |
| bails if conditions are unfit (ie it is windy so they | | | | extended in time so as to include 20 overs if |
| might fall off by themselves). Further details on the | | | | necessary. |
| specifications of the wickets are contained in | | | | Law 17: Practice on the field. There may be no |
| Appendix A to the laws. | | | | batting or bowling practice on the pitch except |
| Law 9: Bowling, popping, and return creases. This law | | | | before the day's play starts and after the day's play |
| sets out the dimensions and locations of the creases. | | | | has ended. Bowlers may only have trial run-ups if the |
| The bowling crease, which is the line the stumps are | | | | umpires are of the view that it would waste no time. |