Index
LAW 19 CHANGES
This Law defines what constitutes a boundary, what is meant by a fielder being beyond a boundary and how boundaries are scored
Laws 19 (Boundaries) & 32 (Caught) had become somewhat mixed up during various amendments of the 2000 Code, so both have been rationalised and separated
Replacing a boundary that has been moved during play and arrangements for sightscreens on the field of play have both been tidied up. Such a sightscreen will now need to have an area marked out which covers every possible position of the sightscreen during play, so that the boundary does not change when the screen is moved
All airborne fielders making their first contact with the ball will need to have taken off from within the boundary, otherwise a boundary is scored
The previous Law restricted the first player touching the ball, if airborne, to taking off within the boundary, whilst allowing any other subsequent fielders making contact with the ball to jump from beyond the boundary. It was felt wrong that a second fielder beyond the boundary could jump up, parry the ball back into the field of play, and then land again well beyond the boundary. The new Law specifies a principle that is applicable to all fielders touching the ball
Furthermore, a fielder standing beyond the boundary will not be allowed deliberately to support or push another fielder to prevent that fielder going beyond the boundary. The intention here is important, as two fielders could accidentally touch each other after both have dived to stop or catch a ball. If the fielder with the ball is within the boundary but is accidentally touching another fielder who is grounded beyond the boundary, this does not count as a boundary
There is a new paragraph (19.2.7) dealing with animals or spectators entering the field of play, which places the onus on the umpires to decide whether a boundary would have been scored
This Law defines what constitutes a boundary, what is meant by a fielder being beyond a boundary and how boundaries are scored
Laws 19 (Boundaries) & 32 (Caught) had become somewhat mixed up during various amendments of the 2000 Code, so both have been rationalised and separated
Replacing a boundary that has been moved during play and arrangements for sightscreens on the field of play have both been tidied up. Such a sightscreen will now need to have an area marked out which covers every possible position of the sightscreen during play, so that the boundary does not change when the screen is moved
All airborne fielders making their first contact with the ball will need to have taken off from within the boundary, otherwise a boundary is scored
The previous Law restricted the first player touching the ball, if airborne, to taking off within the boundary, whilst allowing any other subsequent fielders making contact with the ball to jump from beyond the boundary. It was felt wrong that a second fielder beyond the boundary could jump up, parry the ball back into the field of play, and then land again well beyond the boundary. The new Law specifies a principle that is applicable to all fielders touching the ball
Furthermore, a fielder standing beyond the boundary will not be allowed deliberately to support or push another fielder to prevent that fielder going beyond the boundary. The intention here is important, as two fielders could accidentally touch each other after both have dived to stop or catch a ball. If the fielder with the ball is within the boundary but is accidentally touching another fielder who is grounded beyond the boundary, this does not count as a boundary
There is a new paragraph (19.2.7) dealing with animals or spectators entering the field of play, which places the onus on the umpires to decide whether a boundary would have been scored