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Post by srinivasan on May 4, 2010 6:23:33 GMT
I was once given this scenario.
This is a 50 overs a side game following the ICC playing conditions. The Umpire at the Bowler's end calls a "No Ball" of a foot fault. At the same time the Umpire at the Striker's end calls a "No Ball" for three fielders behind the popping crease on the leg side. One is at Leg slip, one near the Striker's end Umpire very close to the 30 yard circle, the third near the fine leg boundary. The Batmen have not changed sides.
The following ball is a "Free hit" ball. Since the batsman facing the "Free hit" ball has not changed, there cannot be a change in the field position, but, you have three players behind the popping crease on the leg side.
Would like to know what my fellow Umpires would do in such a situation.
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Post by sillypoint on May 4, 2010 11:02:09 GMT
This is an interesting conundrum. It seems to me you have two courses open to you.
1. Enforce the rule preventing the field from being moved on a free hit involving the same striker. As the free hit ball is a virtual No Ball anyway, in that the striker cannot be out except in ways allowed for a No Ball, causing it to actually be called No Ball for a fielding infringement doesn't change things much, except for the addition of a 1 run penalty. The situation is the fault of the fielding captain in any case, because he set the field in the first place.
2. Demand that one of the infringing fielders moves, even though to do so is against the match playing rule. If you took this approach I think it would be best to require the fielder who needs the least amount of adjustment to move.
Personally I think I would take the second course as I take the view that you cannot allow a known breach of the Laws to continue. Additionally, this course has no real impact on the outcome of the next ball (although the slight change of fielding position may enable that fielder to field a ball he may otherwise have been unable to reach).
On the other hand the first course guarantees the batting side an additional run, which could even influence the result of the match; I'd rather not be put in that position.
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Post by chartman on Jun 8, 2010 14:21:53 GMT
What about requiring the fielding captain to remove one of the offending fielders from play for the free hit ball? In effect the field placement will remain the same as you say the field cannot be changed (i.e. backward square leg cannot moved to forward square leg), however by temporarily removing one of the offending players it is made legal.
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Post by chartman on Jun 29, 2010 3:29:07 GMT
An interesting situation occurred during a recent ODI between England and Australia. Swann was fielding at short square leg when a front foot no ball was called and a free hit given. It initially appeared that Strauss was changing the field as Swann went deep. He actually went very deep as he left the field for the free hit - obviously not wanting his head knocking off by a big slog off the free hit.
I do not know if this was provided for in the rules, or was an improvisation by the on field umpires. Regardless it was a very sensible solution (on safety grounds), that the umpires agreed to very quickly, and is similar to my suggestion about removing one of the 3 leg side fielders to make the field placement legal.
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