Cricket Rules, Umpires' Signals and Basic Etiquette.
General Rules of Cricket.
The aim of the game
The aim
The aim of cricket is to score more runs than the opposition.
But the game is played in two different formats and in some games it is possible to get a draw even if you don’t score as many runs as the opposition.
That occurs only in the longer format of the game, played over anything between two and five days, when both teams have two innings. If the team batting last are not bowled out then they can still draw the match if they have not scored as many runs as their opponents.
Scoring
1. Runs off the bat (1,2,3)
The most common way of scoring runs is by either batsman hitting the ball and then running between the wickets.
The two batsmen have to change ends, each grounding their bat beyond the crease at the end that they are running to.
If in the process of turning to go for another run either batsman fails to ground his bat then a ‘run short’ is signalled by the umpire. This knocks a run off the score and is signalled by the umpire touching one shoulder with the hand of the same arm.
2. Boundaries
Four A delivery that is hit to the boundary, either along the ground or bouncing at least once before crossing the rope, produces four runs for the batting side. The four is signalled by the umpire waving an arm from side to side, finishing with the arm across the chest.
Six A six is the maximum number of runs that can be scored from one ball. It is scored when a batsman hits the ball over the boundary rope without the ball bouncing.
The umpire signals a six by outsretching both arms above his head.
3. No-ball
There are several types of no-ball, all of which result in an extra ball being bowled.
The most common one is the foot-fault when a bowler over-steps the popping crease, though having the back foot wider than the return crease would also result in a no-ball.
A bowl that bounces twice before reaching the batsman would also result in a no ball.
If a bowler bowls too many intimidating deliveries in one over, he can also be no-balled, so for example three short-pitched deliveries rising above the batsman's shoulders would see the third called a no-ball.
If a batsman still hits a four off the delivery, it counts to the score. A 'no-ball' is signalled by an arm raised at shoulder height.
4. Byes
A bye is called when a legal delivery passes the stumps without the ball touching either the bat or the batsman's body. The number of byes scored obviously depends on the number of runs taken. The signal is one arm stretched high above the body.
5. Leg byes
Umpires signal a leg bye with a hand touching their raised knee and this is scored when the ball hits the body of the batsman but not the bat.
The ball does not necessarily have to touch the leg to be called a leg bye - it can be any part of the body, except the hand holding the bat. Leg byes are recorded as extras.
6. Wides
A wide is called by an umpire with both arms outstretched when the delivery is out of the reach of the batsman and he is unable to play a correct cricket shot.
Umpires are much stricter on wides in the one-day game, particularly with any bowling down the leg side.
The penalty is one run, with another delivery added to that over. Wides also count in the extras column.
7. Penalty runs
The option to award five penalty runs is a new law that has been brought into the game.
They can be awarded by the umpire in instances such as illegal fielding, time-wasting and fielders damaging the pitch, though warnings would be given first.
But they could be awarded without warning for things like unfairly changing the condition of the ball.
They are treated like extras. The umpire signals five penalty runs by bringing one arm across his chest and touching his shoulder.
If he taps that shoulder, the penalty runs are awarded to the batting side.
If he simply places the hand there, runs are given to the fielding team.
Ways of being got out.
1. Caught
This is the most common way of getting out, when a fielder catches the ball directly off the bat, before it has hit the ground.
The ball does not have to come directly off the bat though.
It can deflect from the pad on to the bat or from the bat on to the pad and still be caught, so long as the fielder takes the ball on the full.
Also if the ball hits the batter on the hand, below the wrist, then you can still be out caught, but it is not possible to be given out caught off a no ball.
When a bowler takes a catch off his/her own bowling it is referred to as being caught and bowled, and when a wicketkeeper takes the catch the batter is deemed to have been caught behind.
If the ball gets caught in a batter’s pads and a fielder removes it and attempts to claim a catch, the umpire should give the batsman ‘not out’ as the ball is deemed a ‘dead ball’.
2. Bowled
The first part of any batter’s job is to protect the stumps.
But if a bowler manages to get a delivery through the defences of a batter and dislodge the bails, then the dismissal is recorded as having been ‘bowled’.
This form of dismissal is the same whether the ball hits the stumps directly from leaving the bowler’s arm or whether it deflects on to the stumps off the bat or the batter.
But you can not be bowled off a no ball.
3. Leg before wicket
The leg before wicket (lbw) law is to cricket what the offside rule is to football – confusing to plenty!
The umpire will consider giving a batsman out lbw if he believes that the ball would have hit the stumps if it had not been obstructed by the batter’s pads.
But a number of things have to be taken into account by the umpire.
The batter can not be given out if:
• the ball pitches outside the line of leg stump, regardless of whether or not the ball would hit the stumps.
• the ball hits the bat before striking the pad then the batsman can not be given out.
• the batter is struck on the pad outside the line of off stump, having made a genuine attempt to hit the ball.
• the bowler bowls a no ball.
But the batter can be given out if:
• the batter is struck on the pad in front of the stumps.
• the batter is struck on the pad outside the line of off stump, having not made an attempt to hit the ball.
4. Stumped
If a batter ventures down the wicket to meet the ball there is a possibility that he/she can be stumped by the wicketkeeper.
A stumping occurs when the wicketkeeper is able to collect it and dislodge the bails before the batter is able to get their bat or any part of their body grounded behind the batting crease.
Touching the batting crease with the bat or heel of the foot is not good enough to save the batter.
They must have something in contact with the ground behind the crease.
You can’t be stumped off a no ball, but it is possible to be dismissed off a wide.
5. Run out
Run outs are most frequent in limited over cricket and can happen at either end of the wicket.
A run out happens when the batters in attempt at completing a run or runs are short of the batting crease when the stumps are broken by the fielding team.
These can be very difficult decisions for umpires to adjudicate on and that is why at the highest level the third umpire, who has the benefit of seeing video replays, is often called upon to assist.
6. Timed out
Because this is not recognised as a very sporting gesture, it is extremely rare that batters are ever ‘timed out’.
But there is a Law that says when a wicket falls, the incoming batter must be in position to face the next ball within three minutes of the wicket falling.
Should this situation arise nobody is given the credit for the dismissal.
7. Handled the ball
If after playing the ball the batter is worried that it will roll back on to the stumps, he/she can knock the ball away with the bat, feet or pads.
But if they use their hands then they can be given out ‘handled the ball’.
This was the case when ’s Michael Vaughan was dismissed in the third Test against at
Bangalore .
When a batter picks the ball up off the pitch to assist the fielding side it is widely seen as being unsporting to appeal for them to be dismissed for handling the ball.
8. Double hit
Another extremely rare dismissal but a batter can be given out having hit the ball twice if the second strike is seen as intentional.
However if the second contact is made to assist the fielding side or protect the batter’s wicket then he/she should not be given out.
9. Hit wicket
This mode of dismissal occurs when the batter either in the process of playing a shot or avoiding the ball disturbs his/her stumps.
This can be with the bat or with the body, but the bowler is still credited with the wicket.
10. Obstructing the field
The umpire can give a batsman out if he feels that the batsman has intentionally obstructed a member of the fielding side as they attempt to take a catch or effect a run out.
Umpire’s Signals
1. You're out
Raaising of index finger means that the batsman has to leave the crease.
There are many ways to get out in cricket, but there's only one signal and as soon as that finger goes up, the batsman's got to go.
2. Four
The boundary four is signalled by waving an arm from side to side, finishing with the arm across the chest.
3. Six
The six is, of course, signalled when the ball has cleared the boundary and the umpire raises both hands above his head.
4. Bye
The signal is one arm stretched high above the body.
5. Leg bye
Umpires signal a leg bye with a hand touching their raised knee.
6. One short
Knocking a run off the score is signalled by touching one shoulder with the hand of the same arm.
7. Wide
A wide is called with both arms outstretched
8. No ball
A 'no ball' is called and is signalled by an arm raised at shoulder height.
9. Dead ball
The dead ball is called when someone is injured and either the players or the umpire require medical attention. Umpires would make the same signal if a batsman steps away from his crease when he is not ready to receive the delivery.
The signal is the crossing of the wrists below the knee and the delivery should recommence without the original one counting.
10. Cancel call
If we wish to alter a decision that had been made, we can cancel the call by touching each shoulder with the opposite hand.
11. New ball
In Test cricket, the fielding side may request a new ball after it has been in use for 80 overs. In league it is generally at the start of either the match or innings.
The batsmen would be informed and the umpire would indicate the new ball to the scorers by raising it for them to see.
12. Penalty Runs
The umpire signals five penalty runs by bringing one arm across his chest and touching his shoulder.
If he taps that shoulder, the penalty runs are awarded to the batting side. If he simply places the hand there, runs are given to the fielding team.
Cricket etiquette
1. Umpire’s decision is final
You should always accept the decision of the umpire. Whether you think it is the right decision or not you should never show any dissent.
2. Walk when out
Sadly this is a tradition that has gone out of the game at the highest level. But there will be occasions when you know that you have got an edge through to the wicketkeeper that the umpire has missed. Whether you own up and walk is your decision. But if everyone adopts this attitude then the game would have far less controversy.
3. Applaud the new batsman
It is recognised as good sportsmanship in village and schools cricket to applaud the new batsman as he makes his way to the wicket.
4. Changing condition of the ball
Polishing, drying or removing mud from the ball is fine so long as no artificial substance is used.
Any other interference with the seam or surface of the ball in an effort to alter its condition is not allowed.
5. Distracting the batsman
As a fielder you can't make any deliberate attempt to distract or obstruct a batsman. If this does happen a dead ball will be called by the umpire and five penalty runs will be awarded to the batting side.
6. Dangerous bowling
Repetitive short pitched or high full pitched bowling which could cause physical injury to the batsman will be called as a no-ball and will result in a warning for the bowler. If the bowler continues with these tactics then he will receive a final warning. If the tactics are still not changed then the umpire can direct the captain of the fielding side to take the bowler off. The bowler will then not be able to bowl again during that innings.
7. Time wasting
If any player attempts to waste time the umpire should give a first and final warning to the whole team. Any repeat within that current innings would see five runs awarded to the opposition.
8. Damaging the pitch
All players are responsible for seeing that the pitch is not damaged during play.
Bowlers must stay off ‘the protected area’ of the pitch. This is regarded as an imaginary rectangle that covers one foot either side of the middle stump and five feet in front.
A bowler will be warned twice before the umpire can direct the fielding captain to take the bowler off and prevent him from bowling again in that innings.
If a fielder damages the pitch then a caution will be issued to the fielding captain.
Any repeat of this action from any fielder during the innings in progress will result in five runs being awarded to the batting side.
A batsman who damages the pitch will receive a caution from the umpire.
A second occurrence during the same innings will earn a final warning and any runs scored from that delivery, other than no balls or wides, will be disallowed.
Further damage is caused by the batting team then again any runs scored are disallowed and five penalty runs are awarded to the fielding side.
9. Stealing a run
Batsmen are not allowed to try and ‘steal a run’ during the bowler’s run up, unless the bowler has made an effort to run out either batsman.
Any attempt made to steal a run will see five penalty runs awarded to the fielding side.
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