Cricket is played under a set of official rules called the 42 Laws of Cricket. These Laws are written and updated by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), while the International Cricket Council (ICC) uses them along with its own playing conditions for international matches. The 42 Laws make sure the game is fair and the same at every level of cricket.
Why Are There 42 Laws?
The 42 Laws cover every part of the game. They explain how a match is played, the duties of players and umpires, how runs are scored, how batters can be dismissed, and what happens if unfair play occurs. These Laws apply from local club cricket to Test matches.
The 42 Laws of Cricket
| Law No. | Law | Simple Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Players | Rules about the players and teams. |
| 2 | The Umpires | The duties and decisions of the umpires. |
| 3 | The Scorers | How runs and wickets are recorded. |
| 4 | The Ball | Rules about the cricket ball. |
| 5 | The Bat | Rules about the size and shape of the bat. |
| 6 | The Pitch | Rules about the playing strip. |
| 7 | The Creases | The lines marked on the pitch. |
| 8 | The Wickets | Rules about the stumps and bails. |
| 9 | Playing Area | How the ground is prepared. |
| 10 | Covering the Pitch | When and how the pitch can be covered. |
| 11 | Intervals | Breaks during the match. |
| 12 | Start and End of Play | When play begins and stops. |
| 13 | Innings | Rules for each team’s batting turn. |
| 14 | Follow-on | When one team bats again after the first innings. |
| 15 | Declaration and Forfeiture | When a captain ends or gives up an innings. |
| 16 | The Result | How a team wins, loses, ties, or draws. |
| 17 | The Over | An over has six legal balls. |
| 18 | Scoring Runs | How batters score runs. |
| 19 | Boundaries | Rules for fours and sixes. |
| 20 | Dead Ball | When the ball is no longer in play. |
| 21 | No Ball | An illegal delivery by the bowler. |
| 22 | Wide Ball | A ball too far from the batter. |
| 23 | Bye and Leg Bye | Extra runs not scored from the bat. |
| 24 | Substitutes | Rules for replacement fielders. |
| 25 | Batter’s Innings | Rules for a batter while batting. |
| 26 | Practice on the Field | Practice rules during a match. |
| 27 | The Wicket-keeper | Rules for the wicketkeeper. |
| 28 | The Fielder | Rules for fielders. |
| 29 | Broken Wicket | When the wicket is put down. |
| 30 | Out of the Ground | When a batter is outside the crease. |
| 31 | Appeals | How fielders ask for a batter to be out. |
| 32 | Bowled | Batter is out if the ball hits the stumps. |
| 33 | Caught | Batter is out if a fielder catches the ball. |
| 34 | Hit the Ball Twice | Batter cannot hit the ball twice unfairly. |
| 35 | Hit Wicket | Batter is out after hitting the stumps with the bat or body. |
| 36 | LBW (Leg Before Wicket) | Batter is out if the body stops the ball from hitting the stumps. |
| 37 | Obstructing the Field | Batter must not block a fielder on purpose. |
| 38 | Run Out | Batter is out if the wicket is broken before reaching the crease. |
| 39 | Stumped | Wicketkeeper removes the bails while the batter is out of the crease. |
| 40 | Timed Out | New batter must arrive within the allowed time. |
| 41 | Unfair Play | Rules against cheating or unfair actions. |
| 42 | Players’ Conduct | Rules for good behaviour on the field. |
The 42 Laws of Cricket are the foundation of the game. They help players, umpires, and fans understand how cricket should be played fairly. Learning these Laws also makes it easier to enjoy and follow every match, from school cricket to international competitions.