Dick's Bits 2 of 14

2. Umpiring Teasers - What's Your Verdict?


UMPIRING TEASERS - WHAT’S YOUR DECISION?
The batting side need 4 to win with one ball left.
It is not a limited over match so the fielding side push everyone onto the boundary including the wicket keeper.
The batsman manages to play a ramp shot and the batsmen only complete one run before the ball is caught on the full by the wicket keeper wearing his/her gloves.
Question Does the fielding or batting side win the match ?
Verdict
Law 27 ...If by the wicket-keeper’s actions and positioning when the ball comes into play it is apparent to the umpires that he/she will not be able to carry out the normal duties of a wicket-keeper, he/she shall forfeit this right (permission to wear gloves) and also the right to be recognised as a wicket-keeper for the purposes of Law 33.2 (A fair catch).
Because of the above the catch by the wicket-keeper does not count and even if the ball hadn’t been caught and merely fielded by the wicket-keeper with his/her gloves on; it would still have been fielded illegally under...
Law 28.2....will be deemed to have fielded the ball illegally if.....uses anything other than part of his/her person to field the ball.
The consequence follows Law 28.2.3 (among other things) is the award of 5 penalty runs to the batting side and is sufficient for the batting side to win the match.


UMPIRING TEASERS - WHAT’S YOUR DECISION?
The batsman ducks to avoid being hit by a short pitched ball (but a legal delivery as the ball was not over head height) and misjudges it and is hit on the helmet; the ball having NOT previously hit his/her bat, and the ball goes in the air behind the wicket directly over the boundary.
Question How many runs are scored ?
Verdict
Law 19.7..... A Boundary 6 will be scored if and only if the ball has been struck by the bat....
So the umpire should signal 4 leg byes as the ball has not been struck by the bat.

UMPIRING TEASERS - WHAT’S YOUR DECISION?
The batsman hits the ball towards the boundary and the fielders initially think it’s going for 4 and don’t immediately chase after the ball. The batsmen nonetheless start running and the fielder belatedly races after the ball which it is now evident will not reach the boundary. He/she sees the batsmen have already taken 3 runs and already crossed (but not completed) the 4th run and are likely to take a 5th run , so when he/she reaches the ball the fielder decides to help the ball over the boundary in the belief the runs scored will be a boundary 4.
Question Is he/she right ?
Verdict
Law 19.8 Overthrow or wilful act of fielder.
If the boundary results from an overthrow or from the wilful act of a fielder, the runs scored shall be :-

  • any runs for penalties awarded to either side e.g. no ball/wide which is not applicable in this case.
  • and the allowance for the boundary...so 4 runs in this case
  • and the runs completed by the batsmen, together with the run in progress if they had already crossed at the instant of the act or throw....so 3 runs completed and 1 more run crossed to make 4 in this instance.

A total of 8 runs shall be scored.


UMPIRING TEASERS - WHAT’S YOUR DECISION?
The batting side are 9 down and need 1 to win and the batsman hits the ball high in the air and the batsmen set off for a run which they complete before the catch is taken by the fielder. The batsmen claim they have won the match because the run was completed before the catch was taken.
Question Are they right ?
Verdict
Law 33.4...If the striker is dismissed Caught, runs from that delivery completed by the batsmen before the completion of the catch shall not be scored.....
The batsmen are wrong as the batsman is out caught and the fielding side win.

UMPIRING TEASERS - WHAT’S YOUR DECISION?
The batsman is firstly hit on the pad and the bowler appeals straightaway for LBW before the ball goes on to hit the bat and spoon up to be caught by the fielder before the ball hits the ground. The umpire thinks it would be justified to dismiss the batsman LBW; but does he/she ?
Verdict
Law 33.5...Caught to take precedence......he/she is out caught, even though a decision against the batsman for another method of dismissal (in this instance LBW) would be justified
So the decision is the batsman is out caught 

UMPIRING TEASERS - WHAT’S YOUR DECISION?
The batsman is firstly hit on the pad and the bowler appeals straightaway for LBW before the ball goes on to hit the wicket. The umpire thinks it would be justified to dismiss the batsman LBW; but does he/she ?
Verdict
Law 32.2...Bowled to take precedence......the striker is out bowled..... even though a decision against him/her for any other method of dismissal (in this instance LBW) would be justified
So the decision is the batsman is out bowled. 

UMPIRING TEASERS - WHAT’S YOUR DECISION?
The batting side are 9 down and the teams are on level scores when the bowler bowls a ball which is considered wide by the umpire but before the umpire can call a wide the wicket-keeper stumps the batsman who is out of his/her ground and is given out by the square leg umpire.
The fielding side claim to have won the match as Law 39.1 says the striker is out stumped if the ball which is delivered is not called a wide and he/she is out of his/her ground.
Are they correct and who wins this game ?
Verdict
Law 22.2...Call and signal of Wide ball.....If the umpire adjudges a delivery to be a Wide he/she shall call and signal Wide ball as soon as the ball passes the striker’s wicket. It shall, however, be considered to have been a Wide from the instant that the bowler entered his/her delivery stride even though it cannot be called Wide until it passes the striker’s wicket
So the umpire should call a Wide and the game ends before the stumping counts even if the call of wide comes after the stumping,which means the batting side win the match.

UMPIRING TEASERS - WHAT’S YOUR DECISION?
A wicket falls at 12 minutes past 2 o’clock.
The outgoing batsman reaches and crosses the boundary at 13 minutes past 2 o’clock.
The next batsman due in isn’t quite ready but is wary about being timed out so he/she makes sure they cross the boundary rope within 2 minutes and finish tying up their pads on the way to the crease. They manage to cross the ropes before 15 minutes past 2 o’clock.
By the time the batsman reaches the crease the time has reached 16 minutes past 2 o’clock and the fielding side appeal for the batsman to be out “Timed Out”
What does the Umpire do ?
Verdict
While this decision may not be in the Spirit of Cricket it does fall within
Law 40.1....After a fall of a wicket...the incoming batsman must....be in a position to take guard...within 3 minutes of the dismissal. If this requirement is not met, the incoming batsman will be out, Timed out.
Hopefully this is not a scenario an Umpire will ever be asked to rule on.

UMPIRING TEASERS - WHAT’S YOUR DECISION?
In a limited overs match the scores are level and batting side need 1 to win off the last ball. The batsman hits the ball in the air and it looks like it is going to be caught by the fielder and at that point the batsman who has hit the ball shouts out “Drop it”.
The fielder does drop the catch and the batsmen complete a run and claim a win.
Are they right ? Is the result a win for the batting side or is it a tie or is it a win for the fielding side ?
Verdict
Law 37.1 Out Obstructing the field...batsman is out Obstructing the field if...he/she wilfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action.
Law 37.5.2 goes on to say....if the obstruction prevents a catch from being made (which it did in this example) any runs completed by the batsmen shall not be scored.
So the batsman is out Obstructing the field and the run does not count so as the scores are level and as both innings are completed the result is a tie as penalty runs do not apply.
Nb Penalty runs apply for Law 41which covers unfair play which shouting “Drop it” clearly falls within BUT Law 41.2 says the umpires shall be the sole judges of fair and unfair play and if an umpire considers that any action by a player NOT COVERED IN THE LAWS is unfair then 5 penalty runs would be appropriate but only for a second offence. But as this example is covered by the laws (Obstructing the field) then penalty runs (other than no ball or wide) do not apply.

UMPIRING TEASERS - WHAT’S YOUR DECISION?
The bowler bowls a wide which is called a wide by the umpire, however the wicket-keeper manages to stump the batsman. While this is taking place the square leg umpire calls no-ball for more than 2 fielders behind square.
Is the batsman out stumped ?
Is the penalty 2 runs ? One for the wide and 1 for the no-ball ?
Verdict
Law 21.13 No ball to over-ride wide....A call of no-ball shall over-ride the call of Wide ball at any time
and
Law 21.18 Out from a no ball....When No ball has been called neither batsman shall be out except Hit the ball twice or Obstructing the field or Run out.
So the batsman is not out and a 1 run no ball penalty applies but not the 1 run wide. 

UMPIRING TEASERS - WHAT’S YOUR DECISION?
The Llamas are fielding and Galer chases after a ball towards the boundary near where his dog Bobby is being walked. Bobby gets loose and excitedly rushes onto the field to greet Galer. Bobby thinks cricket is a really good game and manages to grab the ball in his mouth and run off with Galer in pursuit.
Bobby takes the ball over the boundary
What do you decide to do.
Verdict
Law 19.2.7....A person or animal coming onto the field of play while the ball is in play shall not be regarded as a boundary unless the Umpires determine otherwise at the time that contact between the ball and such person or animal is made.
So it is a boundary if the umpires thought the ball would have reached the boundary which it clearly would not have done in this instance as Galer would have stopped it reaching the boundary.