What is handling the ball in cricket
Cricket is a sport that requires great skill and strategy, with many rules governing how the game is played. One such rule is regarding ‘handling the ball’, which in cricket not only marks an unusual way for a batsman to be dismissed but also sets apart this unique game from others.
The Concept of Handling the Ball
Handling the ball in cricket refers to the action when a batsman intentionally touches the ball with their hands or gloves that are held by them while batting. According to the cricket rulebook, doing so results in the dismissal of the batsman. This rule is established under Law 37 covering “Handling the Ball” of Marylebone Cricket Club’s (MCC) laws of cricket codes, which have been universally accepted as the standard principles governing all professional and amateur cricket matches.
The idea behind this regulation discourages players from trying to manipulate or interfere with the movement of the ball unfairly since it adds an unpredictable factor into play and goes against proper spirit and sportsmanship.
Occurrences in International Cricket
Notably, handing the ball has been among one of the rarest forms of dismissal in international cricket history due to its explicit illegality and strict rule enforcement, making it less common compared to other dismissal methods like being caught out, run-out, or bowled.
Interestingly enough, there have been instances where some international cricketers were found guilty of handling balls during important games. For example, Steve Waugh (Australia), Mohinder Amarnath (India), and Graham Gooch (England) are three players who got dismissed following this mode during historic matches.
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Current Changes to Handling The Ball Rule
Recent changes made by MCC led to merging ‘Handled The Ball’ rules within ‘Obstructing The Field’ laws. Now, starting from October 1st, 2017 according to code’s latest edition, if a batsman deliberately touches the ball to deflect its trajectory or prevent any chance of a fielding-side catching it out, his dismissal will be accounted under obstructing the field rather than handling the ball. The actual handle-the-ball rule now solely applies if this act takes place while receiving a delivered ball.
Conditions for not being charged under this law
There are several conditions where a batsman can touch the ball without being dismissed for handling the ball. These include – If they’re removing an obstruction in their view (like dust), returning the ball to the fielder but only with opposing team’s consent, and preventing injury when evading from a throw-in directed at a stumps accessible reach.
The Spirit of Cricket
The law surrounding ‘handling the ball’ fosters cricket’s gentleman’s game aspect. It rewards fair play and penalizes deceitful actions that could otherwise disrupt match’s natural flow. This embedding of sportsmanship spirit goes beyond just recording points or winning matches; it also enhances character building by cultivating a sense of respect, integrity, and honesty among players.
Despite few arguments calling this regulation as controversial primarily because it occasionally paves way for some subjective decisions having match-altering consequences, vast majority within cricket fraternity accepts them highly necessary keeping fairness intact in this much-loved sport all over the world.
In conclusion, whilst intriguing to spectators who witness ‘handling the ball’ dismissals owing to their rare occurrences, such moments certainly remind every cricket enthusiast about adherence importance towards rules and fair-play spirit outlined by revered institutions like MCC delivering beautiful experiences during each unique encounter on fifty-two yards long pitch.
