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