Ask the Laws Department XXIII: (Bowler's throws hitting the batsman)
MCC, the Guardian of the Laws of cricket, discuss key issues in 'Ask the Laws Department' in conjunction with Wisden Cricketer. This issue considers bowlers throwing the ball at the batsmen.
Bowlers going too far?
One of the most memorable run-outs in cricket history was when Roger Harper ran out Graham Gooch in the MCC v Rest of the World Test in 1987.
Gooch had advanced down the pitch to straight-drive Harper’s delivery and was still out of his ground when the bowler’s lightning-quick pick-up and throw clattered into his stumps.
However, many throws by bowlers towards the batsman are often acts of frustration or aggression, rather than attempts at a run-out.
Stuart Braod was fined earlier this summer for throwing the ball at Zulqarnin Haider A directive sent by ECB to counties recently heartened MCC. It reminded players that a throw by the bowler towards the striker who has not left his ground is an unfair act.
Their wording was as follows:
"Of course, there is no problem if there is a genuine attempt for a run-out but we have had a number of incidents this season where the batsman has not left his crease at any point and has been struck by the ball thrown by the bowler."
"It has been unwarranted aggressive behaviour, which carries with it the very real prospect of injury to the batsman, and we all have a duty to eliminate such unnecessary risk.
"Where there is no genuine run-out attempt such behaviour is totally unacceptable."
While this ECB directive is aimed at county cricket and links in with its Code of Conduct and the work of its Cricket Discipline Commission, the content is applicable to all levels.
Laws 42.2 (Fair and unfair play - responsibility of umpires) and 42.18 (Players’ conduct) both empower the umpires to warn players about unfair acts not covered by the Laws (deliberately throwing the ball at a player is not so covered).
In addition to this warning the umpires should report the matter to the appropriate governing body responsible for the match, such as a league committee. (During the game itself the bowler cannot be suspended from bowling and no penalty runs can accrue from this type of offence.)
It will be for the governing body to decide on an appropriate sanction in the days following the report.
Simon Jones famously hit Matthew Hayden with a misplaced throw The ICC’s Code of Conduct, applicable in international cricket, also contains a clause about throwing a ball at or near a player in a dangerous or inappropriate manner.
The umpires will report a bowler if they feel that the throw was unnecessary and endangered the striker.
In amateur cricket a bowler throwing the ball at the striker after a straight drive is not uncommon. It is hoped that players and umpires at all levels realise that such behaviour is not within either the Laws or the Spirit of Cricket.
Unless the umpires feel that the throw is a genuine attempt at a run out, they should report it to the relevant higher authority.
Ask the umpire - with MCC Laws sub-committee
"In the Test match between Pakistan and Australia at Lord’s, Shane Watson was hit on the pads and umpire Ian Gould was raising his finger for LBW when the ball carried on to hit the stumps right."
"He was given out bowled on the scorecard but should it not have been LBW as that happened first?"
- Submitted by Eugene Frowd, Reigate
MCC says:
No, it was correct that he was given out bowled.
Law 30.2 (Bowled to take precedence) states: "The striker is out Bowled if his wicket is put down as in 1 above, even though a decision against him for any other method of dismissal would be justified."
The only other method of dismissal which is given a ranking is Caught, which will take precedence over all other types of dismissal, except Bowled.
