4.0 PROCEDURES
INVOLVED IN MAKING
GROUND INSPECTIONS
This section of the Guidance deals with the procedures involved
in deciding whether ground conditions caused by the weather (as
opposed to bad light or lightning, which are dealt with separately
at the end of this Guidance) are dangerous or unreasonable.
Following every interruption for weather or after every delayed start
to a match, the umpires must inspect the ground conditions prior to
any play taking place. There should never be any assumption about
the conditions being suitable for play.
4.1 The Inspection
Before allowing play,
umpires must, in addition
to considering the factors
above (at paragraphs 3.2
and 3.3), conduct a careful
inspection of the playing
conditions affecting the
whole of the playing
area (including the area
immediately beyond the
boundary over which fielders
may need to pass as they
endeavour to field or catch
the ball), which should be
carried out no faster than
at a reasonable walking pace
(ie walk over the playing area
including that immediately
beyond the boundary).
Where play is underway, the
umpires should be vigilant
and observant in looking
for signs of dangerous or
unreasonable conditions
and consult between
themselves as necessary.
What they may have
regarded as safe earlier may
have become unsafe – and
they need to react promptly.
Each umpire should arrive
at his own conclusions on
whether the conditions are
dangerous or unreasonable.
The way in which the
inspection is carried out can
be decided by the umpires.
They may walk together or
separately, provided that
each arrives at his own
decision, taking into account
the conditions in the whole
playing area (including the
area immediately beyond
the boundary over which the
fielders may need to pass as
they endeavour to field or
catch the ball). A systematic
approach is however
recommended, taking in all of
the areas causing particular
concern in the same order.
This will allow umpires to draw
comparisons at times when
the ground is not fit on the first
or subsequent occasion and
to assess any improvement
that has been made in the
conditions in that same area
since prior inspections.
Whilst the focus of this
Guidance is weather, such
an approach to inspection
may also identify other risks,
such as broken glass, hidden
objects, divots etc.
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