Obstructing the Field: Cricket's Rare Dismissal Explained

Obstructing the field is one of cricket's rarest forms of dismissal. A batsman is out obstructing the field if they wilfully obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action. This includes deliberately blocking a fielder from taking a catch, distracting a fielder about to throw, or altering the flight of a ball to prevent a run-out. It can be given on appeal from the fielding side only, not initiated by the umpire.

How Obstructing the Field Differs from Handled Ball

Until 2017, cricket had a separate dismissal called handled the ball where a batsman intentionally touched the ball with their hand without the fielding side's consent. In 2017, the Laws of Cricket were amended to absorb handled the ball into obstructing the field, creating one unified law covering all deliberate interference with the fielding side. The change simplified the Laws without affecting how such incidents are treated in practice.

Famous Obstructing Incidents

The most discussed obstruction dismissal in recent times came in 2021 when South Africa's Faf du Plessis was given out obstructing the field during an ODI after running in front of a fielder's throw while attempting to complete a run. The dismissal was debated because Faf appeared to run naturally without deliberately interfering. Earlier, in 1997, Michael Atherton handled a ball to prevent it hitting his stumps and was given out handled the ball against New Zealand.

When Batsmen May Legally Handle the Ball

Batsmen are permitted to handle the ball with the fielding side's consent — for instance, when handing the ball to a fielder. They may also use a hand to protect themselves from a ball that is about to hit them — provided the touching is instinctive and not deliberate interference. Only wilful obstruction or deliberate contact with the ball constitutes a dismissal under the current Laws.

The Ten Dismissals in Cricket

There are ten ways to be dismissed in cricket under the current Laws: bowled, caught, LBW, run out, stumped, hit wicket, timed out, obstructing the field, hit the ball twice, and retired out. Of these, the last five are extremely rare. Hit the ball twice — where a batsman strikes the ball a second time other than to protect their wicket — is arguably even rarer than obstructing the field at the highest level.