LESSER KNOWN RULES OF CRICKET
Cricket is a very popular sport in India. The cricket universe believes that cricket is a religion in India. The fact that Virat Kohli, is the most followed Indian on Instagram highlights the fact that cricket is one of the hottest topics to debate in the nation. Whenever it comes to cricket, you may feel like you know the complete A to Z of it. However, your knowledge may not be accurate in the real sense as there are several complicated as well as relaxed rules which non-specialists may not know.
This weekend’s blog features a list of those rules you might not know and should know to increase your knowledge. They are listed below:
1 Mankading Rule
Named after legendary cricketer Vinoo Mankad, this rule is one of the most controversial and disruptive rules in cricket where the non-striker can get out if he leaves the crease and bowlers lift the bails even before bowling the delivery. This dismal may seem to be against the spirit of cricket, but it holds.
2 Three Minute Rule
The new batsman has to enter the ground within the specified time limit whenever the batsman gets out. Under the 3-minute rule, after a fall of a wicket, the new batsman receives 3 minutes to enter the ground, and if he fails to do so, he may lose his wicket.
3 The Cap Rule
The rule is mainly associated with the clothes or the player’s cap, which he wears on the ground. If the ball touches the cap deliberately by a player before it reaches the hand, a direct catch can not rule a batsman out. Hence the catcher must firmly see that the ball lands in his hands directly while catching. It is not illegal fielding if the ball in play makes contact with a piece of clothing, equipment, or any object which has accidentally fallen the fielder’s person. Then it will be considered as out.
4 Handling The Ball
There have been many instances where the ball goes towards the wicket after being edged from the batsman’s bat. In this case, the batsman is not allowed to touch the ball with his hand. He may use his bat or leg to divert the track of the ball.
5 Object-Hitting Rule
Generally, when the ball hits the roof of the stadium or the spider cam (a camera that tries to cover every angle of the match), or any other object, then that delivery becomes a dead ball.
6 The Necessary Appeal Rule
The Umpires standing on the ground can not give their decision without having an appeal from the bowling side. Even if the batsman has got out, the umpire can not raise his finger unless the opposition side appeals for it.
7 Call Back
This rule refers to calling a batsman back at the request of the fielding side’s captain, even though the batsman has lost the wicket. Such a situation mainly arrives when the batsman loses his wicket by collision or any other unethical way.
8 The Penalty Rule
This rule proves to be beneficial for the batting side as it provides five runs with the ball being inside the ground itself. This rule comes into play when the ball touches the helmet which is placed at the back of the wicket-keeper on the ground. If the ball touches the helmet, the batting team receives five bonus runs.
Waiting for your views on this blog.
Anil Malik
Mumbai, India
28th April 2023