Fake Fielding in Cricket: The 5-Run Penalty Explained
Fake fielding is the act of deceiving batters while the ball is in play — Law 41.5 imposes a 5-run penalty on the fielding side for any deliberate attempt to deceive a batter through distraction or fake movement.
Fake fielding is governed by Law 41.5 of the Laws of Cricket. The Law states that any fielder who deliberately attempts to distract a striker while the ball is in play — by fake throws, misleading movements, or deliberate distractions not related to normal fielding — shall be penalised 5 runs awarded to the batting side. The penalty is in addition to any runs already scored off the delivery.
What counts as fake fielding?
The most common form: a fielder makes an exaggerated throwing motion without actually throwing the ball, attempting to trick the batters into stopping a run or sending them back when they could have scored. It also covers: gesturing as if throwing at the stumps when no throw is coming; deliberately positioning the body to block a batter's view of the ball's location; or any deliberate distraction beyond normal fielding activity.
Famous incidents
Fake fielding incidents are relatively rare but have occurred in international cricket. The ICC has issued warnings to teams following incidents in limited-overs matches where fielders have made exaggerated throwing motions to stop batters from taking a second run. The penalty has been applied in domestic T20 leagues where the incentive to prevent a run is high and fielders push the boundary of legitimate deception.
Why was the law introduced?
The law protects the spirit of cricket and fair play between fielding and batting sides. Without it, fielders could routinely fake throws and deceive batters at will — systematically denying runs through deception rather than genuine fielding ability. The 5-run penalty is significant enough to deter deliberate fake fielding while recognising that normal fielding athleticism (including genuine attempts to field quickly) is permitted.