The Toss is the toss for choice of innings.
Before the toss is at any time before the toss on the day the match is expected to start or, in the case of a one day match, on the day that match is due to take place.
Before the match is at any time before the toss, not restricted to the day on which the toss is to take place.
During the match is at any time after the toss until the conclusion of the match, whether play is in progress or not.
Implements of the game are the bat, the ball, the stumps and bails.
The field of play is the area contained within the boundary edge.
The square is a specially prepared area of the field of play within which the match pitch is situated.
Inside edge is the edge on the same side as the nearer wicket.
Behind in relation to stumps and creases, is on the side further from the stumps and creases at the other end of the pitch. Conversely, in front of is on the side nearer to the stumps and creases at the other end of the pitch.
A batsman’s ground – at each end of the pitch, the whole area of the field of play behind the popping crease is the ground at that end for a batsman.
In front of the line of the striker’s wicket is in the area of the field of play in front of the imaginary line joining the fronts of the stumps at one end; this line to be considered extended in both directions to the boundary.
Behind the wicket is in the area of the field of play behind the imaginary line joining the backs of the stumps at one end; this line to be considered extended in both directions to the boundary.
Behind the wicket-keeper is behind the wicket at the striker’s end, as defined above, but in line with both sets of stumps, and further from the stumps than the wicket-keeper.
Off side/on side – see diagram
Umpire – where the word ‘umpire’ is used on its own, it always means ‘the umpire at the bowler’s end’, though this full description is sometimes used for emphasis or clarity. Otherwise, the phrases the umpire concerned, the umpire at the striker’s end, either umpire indicate which umpire is intended.
Umpires together agree applies to decisions which the umpires are to make jointly, independently of the players.
Fielder is any one of those 11 or fewer
players currently on the field of play who together compose the
fielding side. This definition includes not only both the bowler
and the wicket-keeper but also any legitimate substitute fielding
instead of a nominated player. It excludes any nominated player
absent from the field of play, or who has been absent from the
field of play and who has not obtained the umpire’s permission
to return.
A player going briefly outside the boundary in the course of discharging
his duties as a fielder is not absent from the field of play nor,
for the purposes of Law 2.5 (Fielder absent or leaving the field),
is he to be regarded as having left the field of play.
Delivery swing is the motion of the bowler’s arm during which normally he releases the ball for a delivery.
Delivery stride is the stride during which the delivery swing is made, whether the ball is released or not. It starts when the bowler’s back foot lands for that stride and ends when the front foot lands in the same stride.
The ball is struck/strikes the ball unless specifically defined otherwise, mean ‘the ball is struck by the bat’/’strikes the ball with the bat’.
Rebounds directly/strikes directly and similar phrases mean without contact with any fielder but do not exclude contact with the ground.
External protective equipment is any
visible item of apparel worn for protection against external blows.
For a batsman, items permitted are a helmet, external leg guards
(batting pads), batting gloves and, if visible, fore-arm guards.
For a fielder, only a helmet is permitted, except in the case
of a wicket-keeper, for whom wicket-keeping pads and gloves are
also permitted.
Clothing – anything that a player is wearing that is not classed as external protective equipment, including such items as spectacles or jewellery, is classed as clothing, even though he may be wearing some items of apparel, which are not visible, for protection. A bat being carried by a batsman does not come within this definition of clothing.
The bat – the following are to be
considered as part of the bat
- the whole of the bat itself.
- the whole of a glove (or gloves) worn on a hand (or hands) holding
the bat.
- the hand (or hands) holding the bat, if the batsman is not wearing
a glove on that hand or on those hands.
Equipment – a batsman’s equipment
is his bat, as defined above, together with any external protective
equipment that he is wearing.
A fielder’s equipment is any external protective equipment
that he is wearing.
Person – a player’s person
is his physical person (flesh and blood) together with any clothing
or legitimate external protective equipment that he is wearing
except, in the case of a batsman, his bat.
A hand, whether gloved or not, that is not holding the bat is
part of the batsman’s person.
No item of clothing or equipment is part of the player’s
person unless it is attached to him.
For a batsman, a glove being held but not worn is part of his
person.
For a fielder, an item of clothing or equipment he is holding
in his hand or hands is not part of his person.