3.3 The pitch
Law 7.2 provides that the
umpires are the sole judges
of the fitness of the pitch for
play and refers to Laws 3.8
and 3.9. Law 3.9 provides
that all references to ground
include the pitch. It follows
that the test of whether
the condition of the pitch is
dangerous or unreasonable
is the same as for the rest of
the playing area, ie is there
an actual and foreseeable
risk to the safety of any
player or umpire?
Much of the time, a decision
that says parts of the pitch
pose the risks described
above to batsmen, bowlers
or fielders will apply with
equal validity to the rest
of the pitch and the way in
which it may play.
However, there can be
situations when, despite the
rest of the playing area being
safe and sufficiently dry, the
pitch itself is dangerous. For
example, if a defect in the
covers has allowed a small
amount of rain to create
damp patches on areas of
the pitch, on or short of a
length; or if the pitch has not
been properly prepared; or
if earlier weather conditions,
which have not affected
the rest of the playing area,
have resulted in a seriously
problematic pitch. In every
case, the umpires must
determine whether the
pitch poses an actual and
foreseeable risk to the
safety of any player
or umpire, in this case
principally the batsmen
and the wicket-keeper
standing up to or close to
the stumps. For example,
an unpredictable or steep
bounce, or a pitch on which
the ball repeatedly goes
through the top surface and
bounces dangerously.
In assessing this, it is
important to distinguish
this situation from one
when the pitch is merely
unsatisfactory, ie it allows
significant lateral movement,
the ball stays low, or the pitch
lacks carry. These things may
be matters for the umpires’
post-match report but,
unless they pose a danger to
the batsmen or fielders, they
are not reasons to conclude
that the pitch is dangerous or
unreasonable.
It is often impossible to
predict how a pitch will play
and umpires always need to
be vigilant in observing the
behaviour of the ball after
it pitches, not just at the
start of an innings, or when
conditions are less than
ideal. The occasional unusual
bounce does not mean that
a pitch should be seen as
dangerous but regular and/
or excessive steepness of
bounce may lead to this
conclusion.
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