Clarification on Some Laws for OCL T20 Matches

Field Restrictions

Field Restrictions on the Leg Side for the entire innings

• No more than 5 anywhere on the leg side

• No more than 2 behind the striking batsman's  popping crease on the leg side

Field Restrictions from start of Over 1 to end of Over 6 (NOT for Eugene Matches)

• At least 2 fielders in catching position

• Fielders in slips, and gully area positions are considered as catching

• If in front of the Striker's Popping Crease, catching positions shall be about 15 yards or less from this popping crease.

• Fielders in catching positions should be stationary from the time bowler starts run up to the time batsman plays at the ball

• No more than 2 fielders outside the 30 yard circle at the instant of delivery of the ball by the bowler

Field Restrictions from start of Over 7 to end of Innings (Not for Eugene Matches)

• No more than 5 fielders outside the 30 yard circle

Comments

1. No Ball is called by Non-striker's End (Leg) Umpire  at the  instant of the ball being delivered by the bowler if the requirements are not met. Do NOT wait until ball is dead
2. Main Umpire can (but is not obligated to) point out violations to these Laws before bowler starts run-up to avoid No-ball call
3. Non-striker's  End (Leg) Umpire can change position on the field (go to the off side, for example) if he needs to ensure these requirements are met
4. 30-30 Laws call for only 4 fielders maximum outside 30 yard circle after the initial Powerplay, but T20 Laws have not changed in this respect

No Ball

• For the entire innings, any No Ball call will have a 1 run penalty and an extra ball shall be bowled in the over

• The delivery immediately following the No Ball infraction delivery will constitute a free hit. Both batsmen cannot be dismissed, except by being Run Out, off it.

• The fielding captain is not allowed to change the location of his fielders during the free hit except for the case where the batsmen have crossed during the front foot overstepping no ball delivery, though restrictions of fielders outside the 30 yard circle prevailing that that point in the innings, will still apply

• A high full pitched ball that passes, or would have passed, on the full ABOVE waist height of a Batsman standing upright at the crease is a no ball and elicits a warning too for the bowler from the umpire

• If the same bowler bowls a high full pitch ball ABOVE the waist for a second time in the same innings, he will be taken off immediately and not be allowed to bowl again in the innings

• A bowler in each over is allowed to bowl only ONE ball passing over the shoulder of a batsman  when standing upright at the popping crease. A SECOND instance of this occurring in the same over is a No Ball. Note: a ball passing over the head of a batsman standing upright at the crease is a Wide ball

Comments

1. All foot fault No Balls are called by the Non-Striker's End (Main) Umpire.
2. Over the shoulder, and over the waist No Balls can be called by the Striker's End (Leg) Umpire, but the Striker's End (Main) Umpire can over-rule these calls if he so deems them to be incorrect.
3. It is imperative that No Balls be called and signaled at the instant of the infraction rather than when the ball is dead.
4. the Free Hit applies for EVERY No Ball Call, not just foot fault No Balls

Wide Ball Penalty

• The wide ball penalty will be 1 run throughout an innings.  This penalty shall stand in addition to any other runs which are scored or awarded. An additional ball will need to be bowled in the over to make up for the wide ball call.

Comments

1. The 2 runs per wide ball penalty was revoked this season; to make up for the extra time needed for re-bowling the wide balls, 20 mins more were added to the time allowed to complete an innings.

Wide Ball on the Leg Side

• Irrespective of where the ball pitches in relation to the stumps, if that  ball passes down the leg side of the leg stump and the striker without touching any part of the person or equipment of the striker, the umpire shall call and signal a wide ball, even if the striker makes an attempt to play the ball

Comments

1. If ball passes over the stumps it is NOT a wide ball even if it has pitched outside the leg stump and passes the striker on the leg side (the striker having moved to the off side to play the ball down the leg side)

Wide Ball on the Off Side

• If a ball, not being a no ball, passes outside the "wide marker line" or crosses this line during its flight after having pitched outside the off stump, the umpire shall call and signal wide ball. Whether the batsman attempts to play the ball or brings it within reach is immaterial.

Comments

1. Wide ball call needs to be made as soon as possible after the ball passes the stumps AND ALSO after the ball is dead
2. A No Ball Call takes precedence over a Wide Ball call

Time Wasting by Fielding Side

• The fielding side  is expected to be in a position to bowl the first ball of the last of their 20 overs within 1 hour 50 minutes playing time, i.e. from the call of play by the umpire just before first ball of innings

• The Non-Striker's End (Main) Umpire  will inform the fielding Captain, the batsman and the Striker's End (Leg) Umpire of any time allowances (such as retrieving balls from outside boundary, injuries, allowed drinks break for batsman, other unavoidable delays by the batting side etc)  as and when they arise

Comments

1. The Non-Striker's end (Main) Umpire should note the time when the first ball of the innings is ready to be bowled, so that he can ascertain anytime during the innings how much is left before the 1 hour 50 mins duration expires

Batsman Retired Out

• If a batsman retires during his innings for any reason, be it an injury or tiredness or just to let next batsman come on to the field, he will be considered retired-out which means he cannot bat again in the same inning. But he can bowl and field and even keep wickets if his side is bowling second in the match.

Comments

1. This is an unique OCL law instituted to disallow the unnecessary retirement of  a batsmen

Number of Balls used in an Innings

• 2 new balls will be used at the start of each innings. These two balls will be alternated every over.

Comments

1. This is another unique OCL law instituted due to the wet weather prevalent in Oregon during the early part of the season
2. If a ball is hit beyond the boundary and it takes time to retrieve it, the Striker's End (Main) Umpire in agreement with the Fielding Captain can decide to use the second ball until the previous one is retrieved.