Helmets belonging to the fielding side

[gwalch]

Hi

I was just wanting peoples views with regards helmets belonging to the fielding side, I am under the impression that any fielder, wicketkeeper or not who brings a helmet onto the field of play to use cannot place it off the field but must position it behind the wicketkeeper, is this correct and also how does everybody else implement this, where I umpire I regulary see games where the keeper or fielder use the helmet then when they've finished run to the boundary and place it behind the boundary, and sometimes later in thegame go back for it?

[swerveman]

There's no problem with taking the helmet off the field, but you need to be careful about time-wasting.

When you say "behind the wicketkeeper" you also need to be careful. The helmet(s) must be in a direct line with both sets of stumps.

[gwalch]

Yeah that's fair enough, I just thought that the helmets had to remain on the field at all times, thanks for your thoughts

[wisden17]

Nope no need for helmet to reamin on field. However, as swerveman says be mindful of time-wasting. It is also important to make sure that the helmets are in line with the stumps and not behind the keeper (who in most cases is to one side of the stumps). When doing this though, I don't think the best approach is to shout from the bowler's end about the position of the helmet! Best to have a quick word at the end of the over (as the keeper is running past you).