Law 17 (Practice on the field)

1. Practice on the pitch
There shall be no practice of any kind, at any time on any day of the match, on the pitch or on either of the two strips parallel and immediately adjacent to the pitch, one on either side of it, each of the same dimensions as the pitch.

2. Practice on the rest of the square
There shall be no practice of any kind on any other part of the square on any day of the match, except before the start of play or after the close of play on that day. Practice before the start of play
(a) must not continue later than 30 minutes before the scheduled time or any rescheduled time for play to start on that day.
(b) shall not be allowed if the umpires consider that it will significantly impair the surface of the square.

3. Practice on the outfield

• Video: An explanation of the 2010 change to Law 17
  
  
  (a) All forms of practice are permitted on the outfield
  before the start of play or after the close of play on any day
  or during the lunch and tea intervals
  or between innings
  providing the umpires are satisfied that such practice will not cause significant deterioration in the condition of the outfield.
  Such practice must not continue later than 5 minutes before the time for play to commence or to resume.
  (b) Between the call of Play and the call of Time
  (i) no one may participate in practice of any kind on the field of play, even from outside the boundary, except the fielders as defined in Appendix D and the batsmen at the wicket. Any player involved in practice contravening this Law shall be considered to have himself contravened the Law and will be subject to the penalty in 4 below.
  (ii) there shall be no bowling or batting practice on the outfield. Bowling a ball, using arm action only, to a player in the outfield is not to be regarded as bowling practice but shall be subject to (b)(iii) and (c) below. However, a bowler deliberately bowling a ball thus on to the ground will contravene Law 42.3 (The match ball – changing its condition).
  (iii) other practice shall be permitted, subject to the restriction in (i) and (ii) above,
  either at the fall of a wicket.
  or during other gaps in play for legitimate activities, such as adjustment of the sight-screen.
  (c) (i) Practice at the fall of a wicket must cease as soon as the incoming batsman steps on to the square.
  (ii) Practice during other legitimate gaps in play must not continue beyond the minimum time required for the activity causing the gap in play.
  If these time restrictions are not observed, umpires shall apply the procedures of Law 42.9 (Time wasting by the fielding side).

4. Penalty for contravention
If a player contravenes 1, 2, 3(b)(i) or 3(b)(ii) above, he shall not be allowed to bowl until
either at least one hour has elapsed
or there has been at least 30 minutes of playing time
since the contravention, whichever is sooner.
If the contravention is by the bowler during an over, he shall not be allowed to complete that over. It shall be completed by another bowler, who shall neither have bowled any part of the previous over nor be allowed to bowl any part of the next over.

5. Trial run up
A bowler is permitted to have a trial run up subject to the provisions of 3 and 4 above.

© Marylebone Cricket Club 2010