Today we post the second installment on the Questions of the Laws of the game courtesy of Cricket España head umpire Ron Graham.
This specific quiz concentrates on Laws 3 and 4, but first here are the answers to the questions from the previous quiz.
Then please read Laws Three and Four as four new questions will follow.
Answers to these questions will appear in Part Three of the series.
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS 1 TO 5
Q1 Captain arrives late after his team sheet has been submitted by a team member and after the toss has been made. He wants to change a player. What is your decision/action?
Answer A change to the Team sheet can be made after the toss with the consent of the opposition captain.
Q2. Your colleague has to leave the game to deal with a family problem. The batting side provide an unqualified substitute umpire. What restrictions, if any, apply?
Answer The substitute umpire should only stand at the striker’s end (Square Leg) unless both captains agree to full participation.
Q3. Before the start of play, what match information is the umpire required to communicate to the scorer?
Answer You should inform the scorer of the following :
(a) About the hours of play and times of any intervals
(b) Which clock or watch is to be used as the ‘match timepiece’
(c) About the boundaries and any obstacles that may be regarded as a boundary
(d) If there are any special playing conditions
Q4. What signal should you use to indicate that you have awarded 5 penalty runs to the scorers?
Answer
Five Penalty runs awarded to the batting side – by repeated tapping of one shoulder with the opposite hand.
Five Penalty runs awarded to the fielding side – by placing one hand on the opposite shoulder.
Q5. You and your colleague agree that the light conditions are unsuitable for play to continue. Both captains inform you that they wish to continue playing. What action would you take?
Answer Politely but firmly inform both captains that you and your colleague are the sole judges of playing conditions and that you consider it either dangerous or unreasonable, or both, for play to continue. Suspend play and note the time.
LAWS 3 AND 4
LAW 3 THE SCORERS
3.1 Appointment of scorers
Two scorers shall be appointed to record all runs scored, all wickets taken and, where appropriate, number of overs bowled.
3.2 Correctness of scores
The scorers shall frequently check to ensure that their records agree. They shall agree with the umpires, at least at every interval, other than drinks intervals, and at the conclusion of the match, the runs scored, the wickets that have fallen and, where appropriate, the number of overs bowled. See Law 2.15 (Correctness of scores).
3.3 Acknowledging signals
The scorers shall accept all instructions and signals given to them by the umpires and shall immediately acknowledge each separate signal.
LAW 4 THE BALL
4.1 Weight and size
The ball, when new, shall weigh not less than 5.5 ounces/155.9 g, nor more than
5.75 ounces/163 g, and shall measure not less than 8.81 in/22.4 cm, nor more than 9 in/22.9 cm in circumference.
4.2 Approval and control of balls
4.2.1 All balls to be used in the match, having been determined by the umpires, shall be in the possession of the umpires before the toss and shall remain under their control throughout the match.
4.2.2 The umpire shall take possession of the ball in use at the fall of each wicket, at the start of any interval and at any interruption of play.
4.3 New ball
Unless an agreement to the contrary has been made before the match, either captain may demand a new ball at the start of each innings.
4.4 New ball in match of more than one day’s duration
In a match of more than one day’s duration, the captain of the fielding side may demand a new ball when the number of overs, excluding any part overs, bowled with the old one is equal to or greater than 80 overs. The umpire shall inform the other umpire and indicate to the batsmen and the scorers whenever a new ball is taken into play.
4.5 Ball lost or becoming unfit for play
If, during play, the ball cannot be found or recovered or the umpires agree that it has become unfit for play through normal use, the umpires shall replace it with a ball which has had wear comparable with that which the previous ball had received before the need for its replacement. When the ball is replaced, the umpire shall inform the batsmen and the fielding captain.
4.6 Specifications
The specifications as described in 4.1 shall apply to men’s cricket only.
The following specifications shall apply to:
4.6.1 Women’s cricket
Weight: from 4.94 ounces/140 g to 5.31 ounces/151 g Circumference: from 8.25 in/21.0 cm to 8.88 in/22.5 cm.
4.6.2 Junior cricket – Under 13
Weight: from 4.69 ounces/133 g to 5.06 ounces/144 g Circumference: from 8.06 in/20.5 cm to 8.69 in/22.0 cm.
QUESTIONS
Q6. When should the scorers check the correctness of the score with the umpires?
Q7. When should the umpire take possession of the ball?
Q8. When a ball is replaced who should the umpire inform?
Q9. Is the ball used in women’s cricket the same as the men use?
