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The
Rules
RULE
18. INTERFERENCE
- Batsmen
must not be unfairly impeded when going for a run. NOTE - this doesn't
mean they can't be impeded ... it just means they can'ty be unfairly
impeded. And the definition of "unfairly"? Well, the AICF's
rules don't really say, but it basically means "deliberately".
So, if in the umpire's opinion a batsman is the target of unfair play
by way of being impeded by a fielder, the batsman is not to be given
out and all runs will count. The fielding team will be issued a warning.
A penalty will be issued to the fielding team for a second occurrence,
usually 5 runs. The AICF rules then state that a player may not be
guilty of obstruction if they do not move. A rather inadequate statement,
but I know what it's supposed to mean. If a batsman runs into
a stationary fielder and, as a result of that collision, is run out,
the fielder is not guilty of obstruction or interference is that fielder
simply stood his ground. However .... the umpire's discretion comes
into play when determining at what point the fielder became stationary,
and what he was doing in that position in the first place. Much as
in Basketball, a player isn't protected by the rules just by jumping
in front of an opponent and thereby forcing the opponent to crash
into them. However, unlike Basketball, the definition of this aspect
of this rule is inadequate.
If an umpire feels a fielder has taken up a position (other than the
position they held as the batsman played the ball) simply to get in
the way of one of the batsmen, regardless of how early in the play
the fielder took up that position, the umpire would have good cause
to consider Interference had taken place. If a runout resulted, involving
the batsman interfered with, the umpire should call not out and give
the fielder a warning (as above).
- The
fielder has right of way provided they are legitimately fielding the
ball - but may not deliberately collide with either batsmen. The converse
of this rule is that the batsman is not protected by the rules just
because he/she runs in a dead-straight line - deliberate contact must
still be avoided.
- If
the ball is bowled, but fielded prior to the batsman having the opportunity
to hit the ball, the fielding team will be penalised 5 runs. This
is classed as "unfair play", and the ball will be re-bowled.
The AICF's rules state if the ball is fielded "deliberately".
This is a tad confusing to new umpires especially. The simple fact
is "if the ball is fielded". Fielded means a deliberate
act to stop and/or take control of the ball - if the ball just hits
a fielder, and the fielder wasn't trying to stop or take control of
the ball, the ball wasn't fielded.
RULE
19. MISCONDUCT
- Any
behaviour deemed to be, in the opinion of the umpire, misconduct may
incur a run penalty (see B below). The umpire does not have to give
a warning of any sort before invoking the penalty. Any misconduct
may result in the player(s) being sent off the court by the umpire.
[See Rule 20].
- In
the absence of any specific Centre Rules, the maximum penalty for
any single rule violation is 5 runs. However, in the case of misconduct
related violations, the penalties can range in multiples of 5 to a
maximum of 20, depending on the severity of the violation.
- Umpires
must of course use their discretion when determining if run penalties
are warranted for misconduct. Players may be warned
prior to being penalised, but this is not a pre-requisite and depends
on the nature and severity of the misconduct. It also depends on the
competition underway - at National Championships almost all of the
points below would be penalised without warning, whereas in a mid-week
competition at the local centre, many of the lesser ones would attract
a warning from most sensible umpires.
- Any
of the following may constitute misconduct:
- Dangerous
or unduly rough play
- Swearing
or making obscene gestures - some centres or competitions totally
ban audible swearing.
- Deliberate
physical contact or fighting
- Unfair
play. (See Rule 19F)
- Spitting
- Sledging
(eg. any baiting, harassment, gestures, words or actions which
may interrupt the concentration of an opponent)
- Mistreatment
of equipment (eg. bats, nets, carpets, stumps or balls).
- Deliberate
time wasting.
- Any
player deliberately stepping on the nets.
- Disputing
or arguing with the umpire.
Note: The captain of the fielding side or the batter at the wicket
may query an umpire's decision. Once the umpire has replied, any
further talking to, at or about the umpire, or their decision,
may be penalised.
NOTE: if a wicket fell as a direct result of any of the above
actions, the batsman should be given Not Out and at least a warning
delivered to the offending player, no matter how "minor"
the offence may seem.
- Any
person or team found substituting or deliberately removing the shine,
gouging or attempting to reshape the ball will be penalised 10 runs
for ball tampering. For this reason, at National Championships in
Australia, the ball must not be held by any fielder when the team
meets for a "huddle". The ball must be left on the ground,
in full view of the umpire.
- Unfair
Play can be defined as actions taken outside the spirit of the rules
of the game to create an unfair advantage over an opponent. The AICF's
rules state that any of the following would be considered unfair play.
However, the first one is a moot point, and although I have often
seen fielders try this ruse (including back-stumpres in collusion
with another player), I have never seen an umpire warn or penalise
a fielder for doing so. The exception to this is if the bowler begins
his run-up while the back-stumper actually has the ball hidden in
his hands. This practise, refered to as a "Stooge", was
specifically banned in Australia in the 1980's. The rules re: bowling
reflect this.
- A
fielder pretending to have the ball in order for the wicket keeper
to run out a batter who may stray outside their crease (see note/comment
above).
- The
AICF rules ban a wicket keeper "clicking their fingers to
simulate a ball striking the edge of a bat". Does this mean
the 'keeper can click his tongue for the same purpose? Of course
not ... the rule should ban the 'keeper (or any fielder for that
matter) deliberately making any noise (with any part of their
anatomy) to give the impression the ball hit the edge of the bat.
- Undue
noise and movement during a bowler's delivery. I consider any
noise from fielders, especially talking, from the moment the
ball has left the bowler's hand until after the batsman has played
at it, to be unfair. I'd call no-ball if I thought the batsman
could hear that noise.
- Unnecessarily
slowing down play. A hard one to call .... a warning from the
umpire is usually all that is required.
- After
missing a delivery, the batsman lifting the bat in front of the
wicket keeper to prevent the ball being thrown to the receiver.
This is a practise many batsmen will try to get away with. Unfortunately,
it is also a common thing for a good batsman to do when he has
stepped across to a ball well outside off-stump, then decided
to not play a shot. Raising the bat above shoulder height, to
avoid any chance of getting an edge, is acceptable. Just watch
the angle of the bat, and the position of the batsman when he
does it. If the bat is held vertically, well above the shoulder,
and the batsman remains in the position he attained by stepping
out to the delivery, then this rule has probably not been breached.
However, if the bat is held horizontally or at an angle noticeably
less than vertical, and/or if the batsman takes another step beyond
the one he took to the pitch of the delivery, then this rule has
probably been broken. Not always as easy a rule to adjudicate
on as it may at first appear.
- Ball
tampering - as in E above.
- A
game may be stopped and awarded to one side, or cancelled, should
infringements of the above nature escalate to the point where the
captains have lost control of their players. It is a good idea to
establish with centre-management or tournament management their expectations
of an umpire if such a situation ever arises. Most managers would
not be too happy with a game being cancelled (they would probably
miss out on game fees) and might require their intervention if a game
became out of control.
- Any
player incurring 2 misconduct penalties for any reason should be ordered
off for the rest of the game by the umpire. Again, individual centres
may have different standards to this, so check with your centre's
management.
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