Handled the Ball in Cricket
What was 'handled the ball' in cricket? How this rare dismissal worked, and why the Law was merged into 'obstructing the field' in 2017.
Handled the ball was a mode of dismissal in cricket where a batsman touched the ball with one or both hands without the permission of the fielding side. It was abolished as a separate mode of dismissal in 2017 and merged into the broader 'obstructing the field' category under Law 37.
What the Old Law Said
Under the previous Law, a batsman was out handled the ball if they deliberately touched the ball with a hand that was not holding the bat, without permission from the fielding side. This included knocking the ball away, picking it up, or stopping it with a bare hand.
Famous Handled-the-Ball Dismissals
- Michael Vaughan (England) — handled the ball vs India, 2002.
- Steve Waugh (Australia) — handled the ball vs India, 2001 (also famous for the 281 at Kolkata).
- Mohinder Amarnath (India) — one of the earliest Test examples, 1979.
Why It Was Merged
The MCC merged 'handled the ball' into 'obstructing the field' because all instances of illegally handling the ball are, by definition, obstruction of the fielding side. Having two separate Laws for the same type of offence created unnecessary complexity.
Frequently asked questions
Can a batsman handle the ball with permission?
Yes — with the fielding captain's consent, a batsman may handle the ball (e.g., to stop it rolling against their stumps). This is not out. The batsman must get clear permission — implicit permission is not sufficient.
Is there any legal reason for a batsman to handle the ball?
Only to prevent the ball hitting the stumps, or with the fielding side's consent. Any other deliberate handling is obstruction.