Most of the games were quite different when they just originated. With time, a sport undergoes many changes in its formats and rules. These changes are brought about by the shift in popularity, demand, safety needs, and excitement. Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is the lawmaker in international cricket today. There are many rules which at first don’t make any sense. But once we understand the logic behind them, the rules start making sense. Let us have a look at the Top 10 Strangest Rules in Cricket-
1. Fake Fielding
This rule was introduced in 2017 is covered in the Law 41.5.1 of the MCC Laws of Cricket. According to the law, if a fielder attempts to stop the ball but fails, he cannot mock a throw towards either end. If a fielder does so, the batting team will be awarded 5 runs as a penalty. Any runs completed by the batters will be counted (in addition to the 5 runs of penalty) while the bowl will not be counted. The batters in the middle can decide who will face the next delivery.
2. Three Meter Rule For LBW
This rule was introduced keeping in mind that technology may not always be 100% accurate and to give some relaxation to the umpires. To understand this law, let’s have a look at an example. Suppose a batter steps out to play a shot but instead is hit on the pad. The fielding team appeals and the umpire gives his decision (out or not out), and the team concerned reviews the decision. According to this law, if the ball has hit the batter’s pad more than three meters away from the stumps, the on-field call will stay, and the team will retain the review.
3. Bails Don’t Fall
The bails you see on the stumps are not there for nothing and serve an essential purpose. According to this rule, after delivering the ball, if it touches the stumps, the batter will still be given not out as long as the bails are intact. The most recent incident related to this rule happened on Day 3 of the 4th Ashes Test. England’s Ben Stokes left alone a Cameron Green delivery which kissed the off-stump very loudly, but the bails didn’t come off.
4. No Runs Awarded For Deliberate Padding
Often you might have seen batters deliberately stopping the ball with their pads, especially when a leg-spinner bowls a leg break from outside the line of leg stump. But there is a rule that after deliberately padding the ball, the batsman cannot run. Even if the ball races to the boundary, the runs will not be counted. It is different than leg byes. The umpires will allow leg by runs only if the batter tried a genuine shot and missed and the ball went on to touch his pad or if the batter is avoiding being hit by the ball.
5. Maximum 2 Fielders Behind Square Leg
Very few people know this rule that a maximum of two fielders can stay in the minor area between the square leg and the long stop positions (the area marked red in the image).This rule was introduced to save batter from the now-illegal bodyline deliveries as the bowler may target the batter’s upper body and induce a mistimed shot when the batter tries to avoid being hit.
6. The Shadow Rule
This rule states that if a fielder casts a shadow on the pitch, he cannot move till the batter doesn’t play the shot or the ball doesn’t reach the batter. A batter needs to be much focused while facing the delivery. This rule removes the unfair distraction the batter may face while concentrating on the ball.
7. Penalty For Deliberate Short-Run
A short run happens when either of the batters (after taking a run) does not ground his bat within the popping crease before running for the next run. In such a situation, the umpire declares a short run, awards runs, and decides the striker on the next ball as per MCC Law 18.3. Often, players misuse this rule when they want the better batter on the striker’s end. If umpires think that the batters have taken a deliberate short run, all the runs scored on that ball will not count and 5 runs of penalty will be awarded to the opposite team.
8. Penalty For Hitting Equipment
This is governed by Law 28.3.2 which states that if the ball strikes the helmet or any other external equipment (keeping gloves, sunglasses) of the fielding side kept on the ground, the ball shall become dead, the batting team will be awarded 5 penalty runs and the runs scored before the ball hits the helmet will be counted.
9. Fielders Except Keeper Can’t Wear Protective Gears (Except Helmet)
You might have often wondered why the fielders at silly-point and short-leg wear their leg pads inside their trousers. This rule is the reason for it. As per Law 28.1, ‘No fielder other than the wicket-keeper shall be permitted to wear gloves or external leg guards. The protection for the hand or fingers may be worn only with the consent of the umpires.’ In a Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia, Queensland’s Matt Renshaw wore the keeper’s gloves to collect a throw. The umpires added 5 runs in the score of Western Australia as a penalty.
10. Timed Out
According to Law 40, an incoming batter is expected to be ready to face the next ball within 3 minutes of the fall of the previous wicket. Failing to do so can get him out Timed Out if the fielding team appeals. In a test match against South Africa, India’s Sachin Tendulkar could not enter the field while batting since he was out of the field for 18 minutes. After a six-minute delay, Saurav Ganguly went out to bat. Had South Africa appealed, Tendulkar could have been out.
