Ask the Laws Department XXI: (Run outs)

MCC, the Guardian of the Laws of cricket, discuss key issues in 'Ask the Laws Department' in conjunction with Wisden Cricketer. This edition considers the Run out Law.

Fielder struck on the helmet

The most agonising moment of the first Test between England and Bangladesh at Lord’s also threw up an interesting situation with the laws.

Eoin Morgan batting for England Eoin Morgan played a pull shot and the ball crashed into the helmet of Imrul Kayes, who was fielding at short leg. The ball rebounded off the helmet and went on directly to hit the stumps.

Morgan was comfortably in his ground and so the question of him being run out was not raised, although there was much speculation from the commentators about what would have happened if he had been out of his ground.

Law 38.2(c) states that a batsman will not be run out if:

"The ball, having been played by the striker, or having come off his person, directly strikes a helmet worn by a fielder and without further contact with him or any other fielder rebounds directly on to the wicket.

"However, the ball remains in play and either batsman may be run out ... if a wicket is subsequently put down."

Consequently it is clear that Morgan would not have been given out if he had been out of his ground.

But, if the ball had rebounded from the fielder’s helmet on to his arm or leg or on to the wicketkeeper’s pads and then on to the stumps, then the batsman is liable to being run out.

Similarly, if the ball had first hit the fielder’s shoulder, then hit his helmet before going directly on to the stumps, the batsman can be run out.

A dead ball signal would be incorrect One commentator said it would be dead ball but this is not true.

Unlike when the ball strikes a helmet which is not being worn by a fielder (when the ball automatically becomes dead; see Law 41.3), the ball does not become dead when it strikes a helmet being worn by a fielder.

There are two exceptions to this: the first is if the ball lodges in the fielder’s helmet, when it becomes dead automatically; see Law 23.1(a)(vi).

The second is if the umpire calls and signals "dead ball" under Law 23.3(b)(ii) if he feels a serious injury has occurred. If such a call is not made, the ball remains in play.

Another point to note is that a batsman cannot be out caught after the ball has rebounded off a fielder’s helmet; see Law 32.3(e). As with the rebound on to the stumps, the Laws are clear that the ball remains in play.

A batsman cannot be out stumped if the ball has made contact with the helmet or faceguard being worn by the wicketkeeper.

Ask the umpire - with MCC Laws sub-committee

"I was playing an away match where the opposition captain told us that the tree just inside the boundary was in play. This tree was bushy and thick all the way to the ground. I bowled a ball that was cut into the foliage at the foot of the tree.

"The batsman started running, the fielders started chopping, trying to find the ball. As the search became increasingly futile, one fielder shouted "lost ball".

"The umpire immediately stopped the batsmen and awarded six runs. I was surprised to say the least. Has the umpire got it right?"

- George Close-Brooks, Hammersmith, W London

MCC says:

The umpire was indeed correct, unless the batsmen had already at least crossed on their seventh run when "lost ball" was called.

It can be called when a ball, which is in play, cannot be found. Law 20 should be read in full but Law 20.3 explains how runs are scored when "lost ball" is called:

Law 20.3

(a) The penalty for a no-ball or a wide, if applicable, shall stand, together with any penalties under either of Laws 18.5(b) (Deliberate short runs) or 42 (Fair and unfair play) that are applicable before the call of "lost ball".

(b) The batting side shall additionally be awarded either

(i) the runs completed by the batsmen, together with the run in progress if they have crossed at the instant of the call, or (ii) 6 runs, whichever is the greater.

However, he will be liable to being run out if there is subsequent contact between the ball and any member of the fielding side, including the wicketkeeper.