Handled the Ball in Cricket: A Dismissed Method Now Part of Obstruction
Handled the ball was a cricket dismissal where a batter wilfully touched the ball with a hand not holding the bat — now merged into the obstructing the field law since 2017.
Handled the ball was a distinct dismissal method in cricket until the 2017 MCC Laws revision merged it into Law 37 (obstructing the field). Prior to 2017, a batter was out handled the ball if they wilfully touched the ball with a hand not holding the bat — without the fielding side's consent — in a manner that was not done to avoid injury. The reasoning was that deliberately using the hand to deflect the ball to prevent a catch, a run-out or the ball hitting the stumps was an unfair advantage. The 2017 revision recognised that handled-the-ball incidents were essentially obstructions, and simplified the Laws by bringing them under one umbrella.
Historical Instances
Handled-the-ball dismissals were rare but memorable when they occurred. One of the most famous was Graham Gooch of England, dismissed handled the ball against Australia in the 1993 Old Trafford Test. Gooch deflected the ball with his hand to prevent it from hitting the stumps after a straight delivery from Merv Hughes almost trapped him LBW. Australia appealed and the umpire gave him out — the dismissal ended a potentially match-saving innings. Another famous instance was Steve Waugh of Australia, dismissed handled the ball against India in 2001. Both cases reinforced the rule's existence as a genuine cricket law rather than a theoretical concept.
Current Position Under Law 37
Under the current Laws (post-2017), handled-the-ball scenarios are now governed by Law 37 (obstructing the field). If a batter uses their hand to deflect the ball to prevent a catch or to stop the ball hitting the stumps, they are out obstructing the field. The practical effect is identical to the old handled-the-ball law, but the consolidation removes a confusing dual-category system. The 'without the fielding side's consent' clause remains important: if a fielder tosses the ball back to a batter (as a courtesy), the batter catching it is not obstructing the field because the fielding side implicitly consented to the handling.
Frequently asked questions
Is handled the ball still a dismissal in cricket?
The specific dismissal called 'handled the ball' no longer exists in the Laws since the 2017 revision. The same behaviour — wilfully handling the ball with a hand not holding the bat — is now covered by Law 37 (obstructing the field). The practical effect is the same: it results in a dismissal.
Who was famously dismissed handled the ball in Test cricket?
Graham Gooch (England vs Australia, 1993) and Steve Waugh (Australia vs India, 2001) are among the most notable handled-the-ball dismissals in Test history. Both batters instinctively touched the ball to prevent it hitting their stumps, leading to successful appeals from the fielding side.
Can a batter ever legally handle the ball?
With the fielding side's consent — for example, if a fielder hands the ball back to the batter — yes. Also, a batter may handle the ball to avoid injury from a rapidly approaching ball. Outside these cases, deliberate handling that interferes with the fielding team's opportunity is out under Law 37.