Obstructing the Field and Handled Ball in Cricket — Law 37

Cricket has several dismissal types so rare that most fans will never see them. 'Obstructing the field' and the former 'handled the ball' are two such dismissals — combined into Law 37 in the 2017 MCC Law revision. Together they govern situations where the batsman actively interferes with the fielding side's attempt to field the ball or take a wicket.

What Is Obstructing the Field?

Under Law 37, a batsman is out 'obstructing the field' if they deliberately obstruct or distract a fielder by word or action. This can include: running in the path of a fielder attempting a run-out, physically blocking a fielder from the ball, or deliberately deflecting the ball with any part of the body or equipment.

The Old 'Handled the Ball' Rule

Before 2017, 'handled the ball' was a separate dismissal type — a batsman was out if they handled the ball with a hand not holding the bat, without the fielding side's consent. This was merged into Law 37 (Obstructing the Field) in 2017. The old dismissal was used very rarely — in cricket's entire history, only about a dozen cases occurred in Test cricket.

Deliberate vs Accidental Contact

The critical word in Law 37 is 'deliberately'. A batsman who accidentally touches a fielder, or who makes contact with the ball while legitimately defending their wicket (using the bat to knock away a ball rolling toward the stumps), is not automatically out. The umpire must judge deliberate intent. This judgment is subjective — a batsman who uses their hand to deflect a ball heading for the stumps would be out under the old 'handled ball' rule.

When Is Deflecting the Ball Legal?

A batsman may legally use their bat to deflect a ball that would hit the stumps after a shot — as long as this is done to avoid hitting the stumps, not to prevent a fielder catching the ball. The distinction is fine-grained and requires umpire judgment. The fielding side must appeal for the umpire to consider an obstructing dismissal.