Section 7: Violations & Penalties
Unfair Play — Law 41 (MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 Code, 6th Edition)
Law 41 governs all forms of unfair play. Actions deemed unfair attract specific penalties as described below.
Ball Tampering — Law 41.3
It is illegal to alter the condition of the ball by any method other than the natural polishing using accumulated sweat. Under Law 41.3.2, it is illegal to rub the ball on the ground; to pick or lift the seam; to use artificial substances; to change the shape of the ball; to apply moisture (other than natural sweat from the body) to the ball; or to damage the ball in any way. As of the 2022 6th Edition, applying saliva to the ball is explicitly prohibited (previously permitted; prohibition introduced due to COVID-19 and formalised in 2022).
Penalty (Law 41.3.3): If the umpires are satisfied that the ball has been unfairly changed, they shall change the ball for one of similar condition except for the change that has been made to it, award 5 penalty runs to the batting side, and inform the fielding captain, batting captain, and Match Referee. The match referee may take further action under the ICC Code of Conduct.
Deliberate Distraction or Obstruction of Batsman — Law 41.4 and 41.5
Fielders must not, by word or action, distract or obstruct a batsman after the ball comes into play. This includes deliberate movement, shouting, or any attempt to distract the batsman just before or during the playing of a stroke.
Penalty: 5 penalty runs awarded to the batting side. The delivery is called dead ball and re-bowled.
Dangerous and Unfair Bowling — Law 41.6 and 41.7
Short-pitched bowling (Law 41.6): Deliveries that pass or would pass the batsman above shoulder height when standing upright at the crease are deemed dangerous. The umpire shall first warn the bowler; a second offence in the same innings results in the bowler being prohibited from bowling for the remainder of the innings. In ODIs and T20Is (ICC Playing Conditions), more than one bouncer per over that reaches above waist height to the batsman is immediately called a no-ball.
Bowling at a non-striker (Mankad — Law 41.16, renumbered from Law 42 in 2017 Code): Prior to the 2022 6th Edition, running out the non-striking batsman before delivering the ball (colloquially known as "Mankading") was classified under Law 41 (Unfair Play). Effective 1 October 2022, this action was reclassified as a standard run-out under Law 38 (Run Out), removing any stigma of unfairness. The non-striker is out if they leave their crease before the bowler enters their delivery stride.
Time Wasting — Law 41.9 and 41.10
Deliberate time wasting by the fielding side (e.g., slow over rates, excessive field changes, deliberate delays in play) and by the batting side (e.g., failing to be ready to receive the next ball, excessive time between wickets) are prohibited. The umpire shall first warn the captain of the offending side; further time wasting by the same side results in 5 penalty runs being awarded to the opposing side. Persistent slow over-rate also leads to Match Referee sanctions under the ICC Code of Conduct.
Running on the Pitch — Law 41.12 and 41.13
Batsmen must avoid running on the danger area of the pitch (defined under ICC Playing Conditions as 5 ft × 2 ft centred on the bowling crease). Fielders must not traverse the pitch when it is avoidable. For a first offence, the umpire warns the relevant player; a second offence by the same batsman or by a fielder results in 5 penalty runs to the opposing side.
Obstructing the Field — Law 37
A batsman is out if they wilfully obstruct or distract a fielder trying to field or catch the ball, or attempt to play the ball a second time (other than to guard the wicket). A fielder may also be penalised under Law 41.4 for deliberate obstruction of the batsman.
Penalty: If a batsman is out obstructing the field, the innings has ended for that batsman. If a fielder deliberately obstructs the batsman running, 5 penalty runs are awarded to the batting side and the ball is dead.
Illegal Fielding — Law 28.3
No fielder, other than the wicket-keeper, may field with a helmet placed on the ground by the fielding side. If the ball strikes a helmet placed on the field by the fielding side, 5 penalty runs are awarded to the batting side (Law 28.3.1).
Player Conduct — ICC Code of Conduct
The ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel (updated November 2023) classifies breaches into four levels:
- Level 1: Minor misconduct (e.g., excessive appealing, showing dissent, inappropriate language). Penalty: Official reprimand or 25–100% of match fee fine.
- Level 2: Serious misconduct (e.g., serious dissent, intentional physical contact, throwing the ball at a player). Penalty: 3–6 suspension points or 50–100% of match fee fine.
- Level 3: Intimidation, verbal abuse with serious racist, sexist, or threatening language. Penalty: 8 suspension points (minimum 2-match suspension).
- Level 4: Physical assault of a player, match official, or any other person; bringing the game into serious disrepute. Penalty: Minimum 10-match suspension up to permanent ban.
Illegal Bowling Action — ICC Illegal Bowling Regulations (2014, as amended)
The ICC defines an illegal delivery as one in which the elbow joint is straightened (extended) by more than 15 degrees from the point at which the arm reaches horizontal to the point at which the ball is released. If the umpire suspects an illegal action, the bowler is reported to the Match Referee. A bowler with a reported action must undergo a formal biomechanical assessment at an ICC-accredited testing centre. If confirmed illegal, the bowler is suspended from bowling in international cricket until remedial work is completed and the action is re-assessed and approved.