Obstructing the Field in Cricket: Law 37 Explained
Obstructing the field is one of cricket's rarest dismissals — awarded under Law 37 when a batter deliberately prevents a fielder from making a catch or completing a run-out.
Obstructing the field is a dismissal under Law 37 of the Laws of Cricket. It occurs when a batter deliberately uses their body, bat, or words to obstruct, distract, or deceive a fielder attempting to field the ball, make a catch, or run a batter out. It is one of the rarest dismissals in cricket history.
The Law in Practice
Key to the law is intent. A batter who accidentally gets in the way of a fielder is not given out. The obstruction must be deliberate. Common scenarios include a batter using an arm or the bat to knock away a fielder's throw to prevent a run-out, or a batter deliberately standing in front of a fielder attempting a catch.
Notable Examples
The most famous recent obstructing the field dismissal occurred at the 2019 Cricket World Cup when England's Ben Stokes was given out after knocking away a fielder's throw. The decision was later changed when it was realized the ball had deflected off Stokes's bat accidentally. Intentional obstruction at international level is extremely rare.
How the Decision Is Made
The fielding team must appeal for the wicket, as with all dismissals. The on-field umpire assesses whether the interference was deliberate. DRS is not available for obstruction decisions since there is no technology to determine intent — it is a purely human judgement call.
Frequently asked questions
Is obstructing the field a common dismissal?
No. In the entire history of Test cricket only a handful of obstructing the field dismissals have occurred. At all levels it remains one of the least common ways a batter can be dismissed.
What is the difference between obstructing the field and handled the ball?
Since the 2017 law revision, handled the ball (deliberately touching the ball with a hand not touching the bat) is now considered a subset of obstructing the field. Both fall under Law 37 and are recorded in scorecards as 'obstructed the field'.