ICC

Do Not Claim a Bump Ball as a Catch

If a fielder takes a catch after the ball has bounced off the ground ('bump ball'), they must not claim it as a fair catch. The expectation is that the fielder immediately signals to the umpire that the ball grounded, even before an appeal. Claiming a catch you know to be false is considered one of cricket's most serious integrity breaches.

DRS and third-umpire review have reduced the number of uncontested bump-ball incidents, but the fielder honesty norm predates and underpins the review systems.

Withdraw a Knowingly Dishonest Appeal

If a fielder appeals for a dismissal knowing it is not out — pressing a bump-ball catch appeal, an LBW where the ball clearly hit the bat first, or similar — the fielder or fielding captain is expected to actively signal to the umpire that the appeal should be withdrawn. Pursuing a dishonest appeal for competitive gain is a clear Spirit of Cricket violation.

Distinct from a mistaken appeal: dishonest withdrawal concerns cases where the fielder has clear knowledge the dismissal is invalid.

Sledging Has Limits: No Personal or Discriminatory Abuse

Verbal gamesmanship ('sledging') is a tolerated part of cricket's competitive culture — psychological pressure and competitive banter are broadly accepted. The unwritten line is crossed when language targets a player's race, religion, ethnicity, family, or becomes degrading on a personal level. That line is enforced primarily by player culture rather than formal rules.

T20 cricket's compressed timeframe, stump microphones, and broadcast proximity have raised scrutiny of on-field language considerably.

Walking: Self-Dismiss When You Know You Are Out

A batsman who knows they have edged a catch to the keeper or slips is expected by tradition to 'walk' — to depart before the umpire raises their finger. Once considered the defining mark of cricket honour, this practice is now extremely rare at the professional T20 level, where players almost universally await the umpire's decision or invoke DRS.

Far more prevalent in amateur cricket and pre-DRS eras. Adam Gilchrist's decision to walk in the 2003 World Cup semi-final was treated as a remarkable exception even then.

No Mankad Without Prior Warning

Running out the non-striker who backs up too far before ball delivery — the 'Mankad' dismissal — was long held to require a prior verbal warning to the batsman as a matter of sportsmanship. The ICC removed the warning requirement in 2022 and reclassified it as a standard run-out, but many players and commentators still view using it unannounced as contrary to cricket's code.

Named after Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad (1947). Remains one of cricket's most-debated etiquette questions precisely because the Laws changed but the culture has not fully followed.

Do Not Show Excessive Dissent to Umpires

Cricket has a foundational tradition of accepting umpires' decisions without visible argument. Gesturing, audibly disputing, prolonged staring, or aggressively reacting to an umpiring decision is considered a serious breach of conduct. DRS provides the legitimate channel to challenge decisions; anything beyond invoking DRS is culturally impermissible.

ICC Code of Conduct formally penalises dissent as a Level 1 or Level 2 offence, but the cultural norm precedes and exceeds the formal rule.

Do Not Celebrate Aggressively in a Dismissed Batsman's Face

When a wicket falls, bowlers and fielders may celebrate among themselves but are not to direct aggressive gestures, verbal taunts, or prolonged physical proximity at the departing batsman. Running down the pitch at the batter or staring them down as they leave draws both official ICC sanction and strong cultural criticism.

T20 cricket has a more expressive celebration culture than Test cricket, but targeted aggression directed personally at the dismissed batter remains clearly out of bounds.