One of the key designated cricketers of a team are called fielders. These are players apart from the batter, bowler, and wicket-keeper who take specific positions on the cricket field to stop the flow of runs and get involved in dismissals like caught out and run-out. Most fielders wear a cap on the field.
Each cricketer is a fielder. Fielding is an act that demands athleticism. Right from catching to chasing the ball, fielding is a dynamic component in the sport of cricket. In the heat of the moment, there arise happenstantial moments for which one might need the help of rule books. One such controversial situation is that what if the fielder stops the ball with their clothing or any other equipment before the ball touches the boundary.
The Marylebone Cricket Club’s 28th Law is dedicated to fielders. According to this law, a fielder can use any part of his or her person to field the ball. However, it is an illegal fielding if the fielder uses anything else other than his or her person to field the ball. This includes extending a part of his or her equipment wilfully to stop the ball. Additionally, it is illegal fielding if they discard a piece of clothing to stop the ball.
The law further states that if any other object, clothing, or equipment has accidentally stopped the ball (not in control of the fielder) then it is deemed as legal fielding. This includes the rare event of the ball being stopped by an equipment that is dropped accidentally by the umpire.
When the umpire rules and illegal fielding, the ball immediately becomes dead. Additionally, any runs scored by the batting side during this event is added to the total. The umpire also signals the ball as a no ball and awards five penalty runs to the batting side.
In summary, if a fielder stops the ball wilfully using any other equipment or clothing, then it is considered illegal.
