Obstructing the field
Obstructing the field is one of the nine methods of
One modern pattern of obstruction in
Definition
Obstructing the field is Law 37 in the
Law 37 describes three specific circumstances where this applies, but the Law is not limited to these circumstances:
- If, in the act of playing the ball, the batsmen wilfully strikes the ball with a hand not holding the bat, unless this is to avoid injury.[a]
- If either batsman should wilfully obstruct or distract a fielder preventing a catch being made.
- If, at any time while the ball is in play and without the consent of a fielder, he uses his bat or any part of his person, to return the ball to any fielder.
In the second specific case, the striker is out, as it would have been him who could have been caught were it not for the obstruction. In any other case it is the batsman who obstructs who is out .[b]
If a batsman deliberately alters his course whilst running, or interposes his bat, to block the path of a ball thrown at the stumps by a fielder, the umpire must decide whether the action is wilful.[2] The umpire does not have to judge whether the fielding would have been likely to effect a Run out.
The bowler does not get credit for any obstruction dismissal. Any runs completed before the offence is committed are scored (unless the obstruction prevents a catch being made[c]).
Returning the ball to a fielder
When, after being played with the bat or hitting the batter, the ball comes to rest nearer the batter that any fielder, it may seem natural, polite and quickest for the batter to pick up the ball and give it to a fielder. There is some risk that the fielding team may construe the act to be a wilful obstruction.
Traditionally, a batter would ask the fielding team's consent to touch the ball before doing so, but even if not, if there were any goodwill between the teams, the fielding team would be unlikely to appeal, and unlikely to have their appeal confirmed by their captain, but the umpire would be obliged to give the batsman out if an appeal was made. Batters were advised to ask to avoid the possibility of 'unpleasantness.' [3]
In the modern professional game the question is sensitive, as the fielding side may be trying to keep the ball dry and clean so that they may obtain
The first such dismissal in elite cricket was in an U19 World Cup game against Zimbabwe on 3rd Feb 2024 when England's Hamza Shaikh picked up a stationary ball that he had just played at, and tossed it to the wicketkeeper, who appealed before even catching the ball. Shaikh was given out after lengthy consultation between the onfield and third umpires. Commentators have been uncomfortable with the decision, but the umpires only have to decide whether the ball is in play (if the fielding side acted as if they regarded it as so, that is sufficient) and whether the batter's action was wilful (picking the ball up without consent is sufficient). [4][5][6]
Earliest recorded instance
The first known instance of a player being dismissed in a manner equivalent to the modern term 'Obstructing the field' occurred in a minor match at Sheffield on 27 August 1792, between Sheffield Cricket Club and Bents Green. The Bents Green player John Shaw, who scored 7 in the first innings, had his dismissal recorded as "run out of the ground to hinder a catch". The information was recorded by G. B. Buckley who found it in the Sheffield Advertiser dated 31 August 1792. Sheffield won by 10 wickets in a match that was notable for two other reasons, these being that it was the first match played in Yorkshire for which full scores are recorded and it was the earliest known instance of a three innings match.[7]
Dismissals in international cricket
Test cricket
Two batsmen have been dismissed obstructing the field in a Test match. The first time was during the
No | Batsman | Country | Opposition | Venue | Match | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Leonard Hutton
|
England | South Africa | The Oval, London, England | 5th Test | 16 August 1951 |
2 | Mushfiqur Rahim | Bangladesh | New Zealand | Mirpur , Bangladesh
|
2nd Test
|
6 December 2023 |
One Day Internationals
In
Ben Stokes of England was dismissed obstructing the field on 5 September 2015 in the second ODI against Australia for stopping the ball with his hand when the bowler, Mitchell Starc, had thrown the ball in an attempt to run him out. Stokes was outside the crease when he stuck out his hand not holding the bat, blocking the ball which was on a path likely to hit the stumps.[14]
The complete list of batsmen given out obstructing the field in One Day Internationals is:
No | Batsman | Country | Opposition | Venue | Match | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Rameez Raja
|
Pakistan | England | Karachi, Pakistan | 2nd ODI | 20 November 1987 |
2 | Mohinder Amarnath | India | Sri Lanka | Ahmedabad, India |
6th ODI | 22 October 1989 |
3 | Inzamam-ul-Haq | Pakistan | India | Peshawar, Pakistan | 1st ODI | 6 February 2006 |
4 | Mohammad Hafeez | Pakistan | South Africa | Durban, South Africa | 4th ODI | 21 March 2013 |
5 | Anwar Ali
|
Pakistan | South Africa | Port Elizabeth, South Africa | 2nd ODI | 27 November 2013 |
6 | Ben Stokes | England | Australia | London, England | 2nd ODI | 5 September 2015 |
7 | Xavier Marshall | United States | United Arab Emirates | Sharjah, United Arab Emirates | 1st ODI | 8 December 2019 |
8 | Danushka Gunathilaka | Sri Lanka | West Indies | North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda | 1st ODI | 10 March 2021 |
Women's One Day Internationals
No | Batswoman | Country | Opposition | Venue | Match | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Thirush Kamini | India | West Indies | Vijayawada, India | 2nd ODI | 13 November 2016 |
T20 Internationals
On 23 June 2017, in a Twenty20 match against South Africa, Jason Roy of England was given out obstructing the field, for changing the side of the pitch he was running on when returning from backing up. This caused the returned ball to hit him when he was out of his crease, when it could conceivably have hit the stumps. The South African fielders immediately appealed for a dismissal. Responding to this, the on-field umpires called the ball dead and referred the decision to the third umpire, who gave Roy out.[16]
The complete list of batsmen given out obstructing the field in Twenty20 Internationals is:[17]
No | Batsman | Country | Opposition | Venue | Match | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Jason Roy | England | South Africa | Taunton, England | 2nd T20I | 23 June 2017 |
2 | Hassan Rasheed | Maldives | Qatar | Muscat, Oman |
7th T20I | 23 January 2019 |
3 | Razmal Shigiwal | Austria | Czech Republic | Prague, Czech Republic | 6th T20I | 10 July 2022 |
4 | Abass Gbla | Sierra Leone | Ghana | Benoni, South Africa | 12th T20I | 17 December 2023 |
Women's T20 Internationals
Indian middle-order batter Anuja Patil was given out obstructing the field in the first innings of the final of the 2018 Women's Twenty20 Asia Cup against Bangladesh. She changed the course of her run en route to the non-striker's end while attempting a single.[18]
Zimbabwean captain
No | Batswoman | Country | Opposition | Venue | Match | Date |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Anuja Patil | India | Bangladesh | Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | Final | 10 June 2018 |
2 | Mary-Ann Musonda
|
Zimbabwe | Uganda | Windhoek, Namibia | 4th T20I | 22 April 2022 |
Other recent instances
Mark Ramprakash was dismissed obstructing the field on 30 July 2011, in a County Championship Division 2 match between Surrey and Gloucestershire. Ramprakash was deemed to have deliberately tried to distract a fielder who was in the act of trying to run him out. He made no contact with the ball and it did not hit the stumps.[22]
Yusuf Pathan of India was dismissed obstructing the field on 15 May 2013 while playing for the Kolkata Knight Riders against the Pune Warriors India in Match 65 of the 2013 Indian Premier League for deliberately kicking the ball while rotating the strike. He became the first player to be dismissed in T20 cricket in this fashion.[23]
Sheldon Jackson was given out obstructing the field on 3 March 2017 during the 2016–17 Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Chhattisgarh. Jackson became only the second Indian batsman to be given out in a List A match in this manner.[24]
Ryan Burl was given out in a match in the 2017–18 Logan Cup by obstructing the field, after he pushed the ball away from the stumps to protect his wicket.[26]
Amit Mishra was also dismissed for obstructing the field in the 2019 Indian Premier League Eliminator match against Sunrisers Hyderabad. He changed his line while Khaleel Ahmed was throwing the ball to prevent a run out, and was thus given out.
See also
Notes
References
- ^ a b "Law 37 – Obstructing the field". MCC. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ Marylebone Cricket Club, Tom Smith's Cricket Umpiring and Scoring, Marylebone Cricket Club, 2019
- ^ R.S. Rait Kerr, The Laws of Cricket Their History and Growth, Longmans, 1950
- ^ "'Get a grip': Hamza Shaikh given out for obstructing the field at Under-19 World Cup". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ ""That's a shocker" - England's Hamza Shaikh dismissed obstructing the field in Under-19 Cricket World Cup win over Zimbabwe". The Cricketer. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Obstructing the field? England's Hamza Shaikh controversially out at Under-19 Cricket World Cup". Sky Sports. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ Buckley, pp. 27–28.
- ^ "Len Hutton becomes first to be given obstructing the field in Test cricket". Latest Sports Updates, Cricket News, Cricket World Cup, Football, Hockey & IPL. 22 June 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- Wisden. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "BAN vs NZ: Mushfiqur Rahim out for handling the ball in second Test". Sportstar. 6 December 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ Isam, Mohammad (6 December 2023). "Why Mushfiqur Rahim was out for obstructing the field and not handling the ball". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ "Full Scorecard of South Africa vs Pakistan 4th ODI 2012/13 - Score Report". ESPNcricinfo.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Anwar Ali profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos". ESPNcricinfo.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Records | One-Day Internationals | Batting records | Unusual dismissals". ESPNcricinfo.com. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "RECORDS / WOMEN'S ONE-DAY INTERNATIONALS / BATTING RECORDS / UNUSUAL DISMISSALS". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "England vs South Africa T20I scorecard". ESPNCricinfo.
- ^ "Records | Twenty20 Internationals | Batting records | Unusual dismissals | ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
- ^ "Bangladesh beat six-time champions for maiden Asia Cup title". ESPNcricinfo. 10 June 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Zimbabwe register an emphatic win over Uganda in the Capricorn Tri-series". Women's CricZone. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
- ^ "Not a usual dismissal / Capricorn Tri-Nation Series / Match 4". Women's CricZone. Retrieved 22 April 2022 – via YouTube.
- ^ "RECORDS / WOMEN'S TWENTY20 INTERNATIONALS / BATTING RECORDS / UNUSUAL DISMISSALS". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
- ^ "Surrey win despite odd dismissal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ "Yusuf dismissal divides opinion". Wisden India. 15 May 2013. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
- ^ "Jackson out obstructing the field in Saurashtra's win". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 3 March 2017.
- ^ "'Very very embarrassing! Absolutely shocking'". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ^ "Logan Cup: Burl hits century as Stars clip Eagles". 3-mob.com. 21 April 2018. Retrieved 21 April 2018.
Bibliography
- Buckley, G. B. (1937). Fresh Light on pre-Victorian Cricket. Cotterell.
- Wisden Cricketers' Almanack – various issues