Batsman Stealing A Run

[nompere]

This happens simultaneously :

Batsman trying to steal a Run during bowlers run up and at the same time the bowler throws the ball towards the striker before completing his delivery stride. This results into , the throw missing the stumps and meantime batsman completes one run.

Now , here bowler throws towards strikers wicket completing his delivery stride ( 24. 4) and the Batsman tried to seal the run during bowlers run up ( 42.16) , what would be the sequence of the activities ?

a. Follow the system procedure as per the law 42.16 ?

b. Any action on bowlers part as per the law 24.4 ?

Thanks.

[sillypoint]

The fact that the bowler has thrown the ball towards the striker's wicket rules out all the procedure described in Law 42.16, since these are preceded with the words: "Unless the bowler attempts to run out either batsman …". Since he has done so, all the rest of 42.16 can be disregarded. Under Law 24.4 the consequence is merely a call of No Ball—and that is all. And as we know, a No Ball call does not automatically make the ball dead, so play can continue as normal. However, I add the following proviso.

As this situation is highly unusual it is likely that confusion will reign; i can imagine fielders standing around wondering what is going on rather than just getting on with normal play. It would quite reasonable for the umpire(s) to regard it as unfair for the batsmen to take advantage of the confusion and just keep on running—especially since it was their basically unfair actions that caused it all—and thus call Dead Ball on the basis of Law 42.2.

This actually highlights what I consider to be a weakness in Law 42.16. This Law defines stealing a run as unfair, but then makes the consequence of it depend on how the fielding side react. In my view it would be much clearer if the Law simply said it is unfair and it will cost you five penalty runs if you try it, regardless of what the fielding side does.

[nompere]

I second your views. Law 42.16 leaves the ambiguity as the batsman will not be penalised for their unfair action in case fielding side reacts to it. Additionally in the same scenario if the bowler tries to run out the batsman ( while stealing a run ) at non-stiker end & misses it , umpire has to signal as dead ball and no action on the batsman.