Wednesday, 7 October 2015

Focus on Law 8: The Wickets

1. Width and pitching

Two sets of wickets shall be pitched opposite and parallel to each other at a distance of 20.12m between the centres of the two middle stumps. Each set shall be 22.86cm wide and shall consist of three wooden stumps with two wooden bails on top.

2. Size of stumps

The tops of the stumps shall be 71.1cm above the playing surface and shall be dome shaped except for the bail grooves.

The portion of a stump above the playing surface shall be cylindrical, apart from the domed top, with circular section of diameter not less than 3.49cm nor more than 3.81cm.

3. The bails

(a) The bails, when in position on the top of the stumps,

(i) shall not project more than 1.27cm above them.

(ii) shall fit between the stumps without forcing them out of the vertical.

(b) Each bail shall conform to the following specifications.

Overall length:- 10.95cm

Length of barrel:- 5.40cm

Longer spigot:- 3.49cm

Shorter spigot:- 2.06cm

4. Junior cricket

In junior cricket, the same definitions of the wickets shall apply subject to the following measurements being used.

Width:- 20.32cm

Pitched for under 13:- 19.20m

Pitched for under 11:- 18.29m

Pitched for under 9:- 16.46m

Height above playing surface:- 68.58cm

Each stump
Diameter:- not less than 3.18cm nor more than 138 in/3.49cm

Each bail
Overall:- 9.68cm
Barrel:- 4.60cm
Longer Spigot:- 3.18cm
Shorter Spigot:- 1.91cm

5. Dispensing with bails

The umpires may agree to dispense with the use of bails, if necessary. If they so agree then no bails shall be used at either end. The use of bails shall be resumed as soon as conditions permit. See Law 28.4 (Dispensing with bails).

Tuesday, 6 October 2015

Focus on Law 7: The Pitch

1. Area of pitch

The pitch is a rectangular area of the ground 20.12m in length and 3.05m in width. It is bounded at either end by the bowling creases and on either side by imaginary lines, one each side of the imaginary line joining the centres of the two middle stumps, each parallel to it and 1.52m from it.

See Laws 8.1 (Width and pitching) and 9.2 (The bowling crease).

2. Fitness of the pitch for play

The umpires shall be the final judges of the fitness of the pitch for play. See Laws 3.8 (Fitness of ground, weather and light) and 3.9 (Suspension of play for adverse conditions of ground, weather or light).

3. Selection and preparation

Before the match, the Ground Authority shall be responsible for the selection and preparation of the pitch. During the match, the umpires shall control its use and maintenance.

4. Changing the pitch

The pitch shall not be changed during the match unless the umpires decide that it is unreasonable or dangerous for play to continue on it and then only with the consent of both captains.

5. Non-turf pitches

In the event of a non-turf pitch being used, the artificial surface shall conform to the following measurements:

Length – a minimum of 17.68m

Width – a minimum of 1.83m

See Law 10.8 (Non-turf pitches).


Monday, 5 October 2015

Focus on Law 6: The Bat

1. Width and length

The bat overall shall not be more than 96.5cm in length. The blade of the bat shall be made solely of wood and shall not exceed 10.8cm at the widest part.

2. Covering the blade

The blade may be covered with material for protection, strengthening or repair. Such material shall not exceed 1.56mm in thickness, and shall not be likely to cause unacceptable damage to the ball.

3. Hand or glove to count as part of bat

In these Laws,

(a) reference to the bat shall imply that the bat is held by the batsman.

(b) contact between the ball and

either (i) the striker's bat itself

or (ii) the striker's hand holding the bat

or (iii) any part of a glove worn on the striker's hand holding the bat shall be regarded as the ball striking or touching the bat, or being struck by the bat.