Feel 100% Confident When Asked To Umpire? Read On.
Article Date: 20th May 2004
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Hey Billy! Can you do the next 10!
So your captain asks you to umpire for the next ten overs. You don't mind because you're going to have to do it sometime anyway. But there's still a little doubt in the back of your mind about certain rules.
The common cricket laws which most still don't know
It was back at the turn of the millennium that the laws of cricket saw their first major change of recent years. Prior to that, the game of cricket had been governed by a series of codes of law for over 250 years. During this time it's been the MCC (Marylebone Cricket Club) who have had the sole responsibility for upholding the laws and making sure the meanings are as relevant today as they have always been.
The Basic Laws of Cricket
The basic laws of cricket have stood the test of time and have changed little over the years. However, in the year 2000 the MCC decided on a few crucial changes. 4 years on these changes still evoke confusion and sometimes bitterness to those who do and don't know the laws. So here we are, what follows are some of the more commonly encountered cricket laws which people never seem to fully get to grips with!
Law 24. No Ball
Not surprisingly the no-ball law creates much of the confusion. Today there are so many instances on the cricket field that can lead to a no-ball being called, that it's no wonder some people have second thoughts when asked to umpire on a wet and cold Sunday at The Ridings, or maybe that's just because of the weather.
Bowling of high full pitched balls
Right, okay picture the scene, you're the umpire at the bowler's end of the pitch, the bowler pounds in, delivers the ball and bowls a dreaded beamer. What do you do? Well, here's a guide.
So, is the delivery a slow paced ball?
Yes it's a Slow Paced Ball. The ball has or would have passed over the height of the striker's shoulders and has not bounced yet. This is the height of the striker's shoulders from the ground as he/she stands upright at the crease. The ball is dangerous and unfair irrespective of the player being injured or not. You (the bowler's end umpire) call No-Ball. Well done, you did well!
No it's not a Slow Paced Ball The bowler has bowled the ball and it looks like it's going faster than a slow pace. The ball has or would have passed the striker above waist height on the full. Again waist height is the height of the striker's waist above the ground when he/she is standing upright at the crease. This ball is also dangerous and unfair, whether or not it is likely to inflict physical injury on the striker. You (the bowler's end umpire) call No-Ball.
So there we have it, we now know for sure what should and shouldn't be called a no-ball if someone gets a beamer.
So what other laws are we still unsure about since the 2000 law changes?
Law 24.6 Ball bouncing more than twice or rolling along the ground
Here's another one which we should clear up. The umpire at the bowler's end shall call and signal No ball if a ball which he considers to have been delivered, without having previously touched the bat or person of the striker, either (i) bounces more than twice or (ii) rolls along the ground before it reaches the popping crease (this is where the striker stands).
How many runs then for a No-Ball?
Firstly we're talking senior cricket and also Under 13s and above. For under 11s cricket the scoring is different.
So it's very similar to runs scored from a wide-ball. It's one run for the No-Ball and then additional runs for every run scored off the bat or from byes or leg byes.
Now you should be a better umpire!
As you know, there are loads and loads of cricket laws which people still get mistaken on, but the few which I've mentioned in this article are some of the more common ones which seem to confuse people. I could have carried on, but we'll leave it there for the time being.
So don't have nightmares, do sleep well.
