Ask the Laws Department: III (Substitutes)

MCC are the Guardians of the Laws of cricket.

The third in a new feature, in conjunction with Wisden Cricketer, where Fraser Stewart from the MCC Laws Department answers common questions and queries on the Laws of the Game.

No substitute for a rest break

Former MCC Young Cricketer, Lee Hodgson, has been 12th man for England It has been a contentious issue ever since England over-indulged their players in the 2005 Ashes series - lengthy substitutions in the field, so the quick bowlers, and anyone who fancies it, can have a rest. Traditionally all players had to grin and bear the physical challenge of a Test; they all had to field, however good or bad they were, and off-field recuperation was distinctly frowned on.

So finally, now, the amount of time that substitutes will spend on the field in international cricket is to be reduced. The ICC has recently altered its playing conditions relating to substitutes so that players will no longer be allowed to have a substitute while they are off the field for a "comfort break". The Laws of Cricket have not changed and ICC’s tweak is a reaffirmation of what is laid down in any case. Under Law 2.1(c) a substitute fielder may act only for a player who is ill or injured or, at the umpire’s discretion, for "other wholly acceptable reasons". The ICC has stated in its playing regulations that these reasons must be extreme circumstances.

Law 2.1(c) clearly states that substitutes are not allowed if a fielder wants to change his shirt or his boots. The wicketkeeper, the umpires and, if they play well, the batsmen will stay on the field for a whole session without the need for a break. Nutritionists and sports scientists encourage constant rehydration but drink breaks each hour provide up to a five-minute window for a comfort break, if needed. It is not fair for a fast bowler, who may not be the most agile fielder, to leave the field after a spell and be replaced by an athletic, specialist fielder.

There is confusion over whether a substitute is allowed
to keep wicket. Under the Laws a substitute is not allowed to act for the wicketkeeper - this is in line with the Law that a substitute cannot bat or bowl. Wicketkeeping is a specialist discipline, like batting or bowling, and so is treated as such under the Laws. But, in professional cricket, there are certain playing conditions where this substitution is allowed.

Ask the umpire
- with MCC Laws sub-committee

Alistair Cook takes a catch A batsman played a pull shot and the ball struck the helmet being worn by the short-leg fielder. The ball was deflected up into the air and caught by another fielder. Nobody was sure whether it was out or not and whether it should have been a no-ball or dead ball - the umpires were not qualified - but the batsman eventually walked. Should it have been out or not?

MCC says:

Law 32.3(e) states: It is not a fair catch if the ball has touched a protective helmet worn by a fielder, although the ball remains in play.

Consequently the umpires should have said that the
batsman was not out. The ball remains in play, so it should not be called a no-ball or dead ball. Five penalty runs should not be awarded, as the helmet was being worn at the time that it was struck.