Obstructing the Field: Cricket's Rarely-Invoked Dismissal
The 'obstructing the field' mode of dismissal in cricket — what actions constitute obstruction (deliberate interference with the fielding team's attempt to field the ball or take a wicket), how it differs from 'hit the ball twice,' notable instances of the dismissal in international cricket, why it is so rarely invoked, and how the law was simplified in 2017 to consolidate related offences.
The Law
Law 37 of the Laws of Cricket covers 'Obstructing the Field.' A batsman is out obstructing the field if they wilfully obstruct or distract the fielding side — specifically: using their body or bat to prevent a fielder from fielding or throwing the ball; deliberately distracting a fielder about to take a catch; or using their bat or body to deflect a ball that a fielder is attempting to retrieve. The word 'wilfully' is crucial — accidental obstruction is not a dismissal. A batsman who moves out of the way of a throw and accidentally deflects the ball with their body is not out obstructing the field; a batsman who deliberately steps into the path of a return throw to prevent a run-out is. The dismissal applies to both the striker and the non-striker — either batsman can obstruct the field.
The 2017 Simplification
Before 2017, the Laws of Cricket had separate provisions for 'obstructing the field,' 'handled the ball' (deliberately touching the ball with the hand not holding the bat without the fielding side's permission), and 'hit the ball twice' (hitting the ball a second time other than to defend the wicket). The 2017 revision of the Laws merged 'handled the ball' and related behaviours into 'obstructing the field' — simplifying the dismissal category and reducing the number of separately named dismissal types from ten to nine. Now, a batsman who picks up the ball and prevents a run-out, or handles the ball without permission, is 'out obstructing the field' rather than 'out handled the ball.'
Notable Instances
The most famous 'obstructing the field' dismissal in international cricket is Len Hutton (England) against South Africa in 1951 — dismissed while attempting to prevent the ball from hitting his stumps, the only England player ever dismissed this way in Tests. Michael Vaughan avoided a similar dismissal in a match where he knocked the ball away from the stumps with his hand — the fielding team chose not to appeal. In limited-overs cricket, Andrew Hilditch (Australia) was controversially given out 'handled the ball' against Pakistan in 1979 after picking up the ball and handing it to a fielder — a dismissal that was within the law but universally regarded as contrary to the spirit of cricket. The rarity of this dismissal in modern cricket reflects the batsman's awareness of the law and reluctance by fielding teams to invoke it in situations that might be considered unsporting.
Frequently asked questions
Is a batsman out if they deflect the ball with their helmet?
If a batsman deliberately uses their helmet (or any protective equipment) to obstruct a fielder, they can be given out obstructing the field. However, helmets deflecting the ball accidentally — for example, when a ball hits a helmet placed behind the stumps — produces a penalty of 5 runs to the batting side (ball-dead and 5 penalty runs), not a dismissal. The key word remains 'wilfully' — a batsman who steps in front of a throw and allows it to hit their helmet deliberately is obstructing the field; a ball that accidentally ricochets off a dropped helmet is not. Umpires assess the intent of the contact when deciding whether to uphold an obstructing-the-field appeal.
What is 'hit the ball twice' and does it still exist as a separate dismissal?
Before 2017, 'hit the ball twice' (Law 34) was a separate mode of dismissal covering a batsman deliberately hitting the ball a second time other than to prevent it from hitting their stumps. After 2017, this was merged into the obstructing the field category — a batsman who hits the ball twice (other than to defend the stumps) is now 'out obstructing the field.' The laws were simplified rather than changed in substance. A batsman can still legally hit the ball twice if the second hit is solely to prevent the ball from hitting the stumps — a defensive reflex is permitted. The deliberate second strike to score runs or prevent fielding is prohibited.
Can the fielding team retract an appeal for obstructing the field?
Yes — under the Laws of Cricket (and the 'spirit of cricket' guidance), a fielding team can withdraw an appeal. Once an appeal has been made and the umpire has upheld it (given the batsman out), the fielding captain can ask the umpires to revoke the decision if they believe the dismissal was contrary to the spirit of cricket — for example, if the obstruction appeared accidental. The umpires can reinstate the batsman if they are satisfied the appeal is being withdrawn in good faith. This rarely happens but has occurred in lower-level cricket when fielding teams appeal instinctively and then reflect on whether the appeal was appropriate.