10 Lesser-known Rules of Cricket, that you probably didn’t know

Globally, cricket is a very popular sport among all the sports. The game of cricket has evolved a lot over a period of time. And along with the evolution of the game, there comes some constant changes in its rules and regulations. Cricket is known as Gentleman’s Game, and it needs to be played in a fixed set of rules. There are some standard rules which come into play on a regular basis. However, there are some weird rules which usually don’t come into action. These are the rules which are lesser-known by cricket fans and followers, and they will be surprised to know about them. 

Let’s take a look at few of these Lesser-known rules of cricket, so that next time you play or watch cricket, you remember these strange rules.

1. Mankading Rule

Image Source: The Indian Express

Mankading Rule is one of the most controversial & undisciplined rules in the cricket world. This rule has been named after the legendary Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad. As per this rule, the non-striker batsman can get out if he is not in the crease or leaves the crease & bowler hit the bails even before bowling the delivery. However, this act is against the spirit of the game, but it still exists.

2. The Penalty Rule

Image Source: Cricket Country

This rule is very beneficial for the batting side as it provides 5 runs with the ball being inside the boundary line. The wicket-keeper normally keeps the extra helmet behind the stumps. If the ball touches the helmet which is placed at the back, the umpire gives 5 bonus runs to the batting side. This is done to ensure that a boundary is not obstructed by the helmet.

3. Call Back

Image Source: Daily Hunt

As per this rule, if the umpire has declared a batsman to be out, the fielding captain has right to ask the umpire to withdraw the decision. This happens in very extreme cases like run-out caused due to collision between the batsmen and fielder or any other such reasons where the batsman is dismissed in an unconventional way.

4. The Cap Rule

Image Source: Sportskeeda

This rule is mainly related with the clothes or the player’s cap, which he wears or carries on the ground. According to this rule, the ball can’t touch a fielder’s cap or clothes before it falls into his hands. Any surface excluding hands of the fielder are considered as the ground. Not only this, if the ball touches the cap or clothes of one fielder and is caught by another fielder, then the batsman will still be declared as not out.

5. Three Minute Rule

Image Source: Daily Mail

As per this ‘three-minute rule,’ a batsman should reach the pitch within three minutes after a specific dismissal. If a batsman fails to reach the pitch within 180 seconds, he can be declared as ‘retired hurt’. Therefore we usually see that the next batsman in the batting order is always padded up with his bat and helmet near him.

6. Handling the Ball

Image Source: The Cricket Lounge

There have been many occasions where the ball goes towards the stumps after being edged from the batsman’s bat. In this case, the batsman isn’t allowed to touch the ball to stop it from hitting the stumps with his hands. However, he can use his bat or leg to divert the ball from hitting the wickets.

7.  The Necessary Appeal Rule

Image Source: The Indian Express

It is very crucial for the bowler or fielders to appeal for their dismissals. If the bowling side doesn’t appeal, then no matter how obvious it looks that a wicket has been taken, the umpire can’t raise his finger to declare out. Thus, it’s very important for the bowling side that they must always appeal for every dismissal.

8. Object-Hitting Rule

Image Source: BBC

According to this rule, if a ball hits the roof of a stadium or the spider-cam (a camera that moves in the air and tries to capture every perspective of the match), then that delivery is considered as a dead ball and the bowler has to bowl that delivery again. In Australia’s Etihad Stadium, if a ball hits the roof within the stadium and is caught by the fielder, then it’s declared as not out.

9. Double Bat

As per the law, a batsman can be declared as out by the umpire, if he intentionally hits the ball twice. However, the batsman is considered as not out, if he unintentionally hits the ball twice. This law of cricket comes under Law 34 of the rulebook.

 10. Obstructing the Field

Image Source: The Indian Express

If the batsman doesn’t play with the right spirit and deliberately comes in between the line of the throw to save him from getting run-out, then the umpire can declare him out for obstructing the field. Here, the umpire has the rights to decide whether it was intentionally or unintentionally. This rule is somehow similar to handling the ball.

This was the list of 10 Lesser-known rules of cricket that you probably didn't know. Now, next time if you are in any such situation while playing or watching the game of cricket, you’ll remember these rules for sure.