Ground Weather and Light | Page 11

3.4 Exceptional circumstances and unreasonable conditions Law 3.8(a) provides that it is solely for the umpires together to decide whether conditions of GW&L OR exceptional circumstances mean it would be dangerous OR unreasonable for play to take place. Thus far, this Guidance has considered ‘dangerous’ conditions and the test to determine them, as set out in the Laws. Clearly anything that is ‘dangerous’, whether otherwise ‘reasonable’ or ‘unexceptional’, will preclude any play. What we will now consider is the meaning of ‘exceptional circumstances’ or ‘unreasonable’. Law 3.8(c) provides that: ‘Conditions shall be regarded as unreasonable if, although posing no risk to safety, it would not be sensible for play to proceed’. That it is raining heavily does not necessarily mean the conditions have become dangerous, although they may have done so, but most umpires (and players) would consider such conditions to be unreasonable and would expect umpires to suspend or not to start/resume play. Tom Smith’s Cricket Umpiring and Scoring Laws of Cricket (2000 Code 4th Edition) says on page 43 that there could be other situations where it would be dangerous for play to Law 3.8(a) states that proceed – (eg a large swarm conditions are not to be of bees invading the field of regarded as either dangerous play) or unreasonable but or unreasonable merely not dangerous – (eg waiting because they are not ideal. for paramedics to come to administer aid to a player who has collapsed on the field). 9 92018 ECB Ground Weather and Light.indd 11 15/03/2016 15:58