The MCC, which is authorised to make, change and interpret cricket laws, defined what ‘attempting to play the ball’ means while adjudging dead-ball decisions by the umpires during two different games in the 100-ball competition. The first instance occurred in the August 6 game between MI London and London Spirit. MI’s Nicholas Pooran and Spirit captain Liam Livingstone had a bit of a cat-and-mouse when the English international stopped just before delivering a ball twice. Pooran then indicated he was not ready to face a ball as Livingstone aborted his run-up.
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of the cricket laws, on Friday clarified the dead-ball rule after the law was applied in two different ways by the umpires in the ongoing ‘The Hundred’ in England.
As per Law 41.10.1, “It is unfair for a batter to waste time.
“either umpire shall call and signal Dead-ball when the striker is not ready for the delivery of the ball and, if the ball is delivered, does not attempt to play it, according to it. In Pooran’s case, it said that “Pooran, perhaps knowing the Law, actively withdrew his bat from the line of the ball”. As soon as she attempted to hit the ball – and note the Law talks about “attempting” to play the ball rather than actually making contact with it – the ball would not be Dead, and the ball will count in the over, as correctly identified by umpire Newell.
However, Kapp half-heartedly waved her bat at the ball and made contact with it. The contact, it seemed, was not to score runs or defend the ball, but it looked an instinctive one. On this occasion, umpire Mark Newell called it a fair ball or one of the over. With the two incidents confusing fans, MCC cleared the air and detailed the dead-ball rule. Provided the umpire is satisfied that the striker had adequate reason for not being ready, the ball shall not count as one of the over. But in Kapp’s case, “instinctively prodded at the ball and made contact with it. In normal circumstances, the striker should always be ready to take strike when the bowler is ready to start his/her run-up.”
