Innings

13.1 Number of innings

13.1.1 A match shall be one or two innings for each side according to agreement reached before the match.

13.1.2 It may be agreed to limit any innings to a number of overs or to a period of time.  If such an agreement is made then

13.1.2.1 in a one-innings match a similar agreement shall apply to both innings.

13.1.2.2 in a two-innings match similar agreements shall apply     

to the first innings of each side

or to the second innings of each side

or to both innings of each side.

For both one-innings and two-innings matches, the agreement must also include criteria for determining the result when neither of Laws 16.1 (A Win – two-innings match) or 16.2 (A Win – one-innings match) applies.

13.2 Alternate innings

In a two-innings match each side shall take their innings alternately except in the cases provided for in Law 14 (The follow-on) or in Law 15.2 (Forfeiture of an innings).

13.3 Completed innings

A side’s innings is to be considered as completed if any of the following applies:

13.3.1 the side is all out.

13.3.2 at the fall of a wicket or the retirement of a batter, further balls remain to be bowled but no further batter is available to come in.

13.3.3 the captain declares the innings closed.

13.3.4 the captain forfeits the innings.

13.3.5 in the case of an agreement under 13.1.2, 

either the prescribed number of overs has been bowled

or  the prescribed time has expired

as appropriate.

13.4 The toss

The captains shall toss a coin for the choice of innings, on the field of play and in the presence of one or both of the umpires, not earlier than 30 minutes, nor later than 15 minutes before the scheduled or any rescheduled time for the start of play.  Note, however, the provisions of Law 1.3 (Captain).

13.5 Decision to be notified

As soon as the toss is completed, the captain of the side winning the toss shall decide whether to bat or to field and shall notify the opposing captain and the umpires of this decision.  Once notified, the decision cannot be changed.

© Marylebone Cricket Club 2017