Sightscreen Rules in Cricket — Position, Size & Batsman's Right to Demand One
The sightscreen gives batsmen a clean background against which to pick up the ball. Learn the ICC rules on sightscreen position, what happens when it is not available, and what batsmen can demand under the Laws of Cricket.
A sightscreen is a large, fixed screen erected beyond the boundary at each end of the cricket ground, positioned directly behind the bowler's arm so that the batsman has a uniform, contrasting background against which to pick up the ball as it is delivered. Without a sightscreen — or with an inadequate one — a batsman must track a fast-moving ball against a background of moving spectators, advertising hoardings, or varying sky light, dramatically increasing the difficulty of early ball sighting.
What the sightscreen looks like
Sightscreens are typically white when a red ball is in use (so the red seam stands out against the white background) and dark green or black when a white ball is in use (so the white ball shows clearly). During day-night matches where a pink ball is used, a white sightscreen is standard. Many modern grounds have electronic or retractable sightscreens that can change colour or be repositioned between innings.
Law 19 and the batsman's rights
Under Law 19 of the Laws of Cricket, the batsman has the right to request that the sightscreen be positioned so as to provide a suitable background for ball-sighting. If the sightscreen is not positioned to the batsman's satisfaction before delivery, the batsman may ask the umpire to have it repositioned and the umpire must delay play until this is done. An umpire cannot compel a batsman to take guard without an adequate sightscreen.
Spectators in the sightscreen area
Ground authorities designate the rows immediately behind the sightscreen as a restricted zone where spectators are instructed to remain seated and still during play. Moving people in the sightscreen area — particularly people in white or light-coloured clothing — can distract a batsman and sometimes the bowler. Umpires can pause play if movement in the sightscreen area occurs during a delivery run-up, and the delivery may need to be bowled again as a dead ball.
Sightscreen limitations at non-standard venues
Not all cricket grounds have full sightscreens at both ends. Associate nations hosting their first Test matches, temporary venues, and some older grounds may have partial screens or no permanent sightscreen structure. In such cases the ICC Playing Conditions specify that a substitute background must be arranged — for example, a sheet hung from existing stands — and the match may be subject to special playing conditions acknowledging the limitation. Matches can still proceed without a perfect sightscreen, but this must be agreed by both captains.
Frequently asked questions
Why do sightscreens sometimes move mid-over?
When a left-handed and right-handed batsman are at the crease simultaneously, the sightscreen needs to be repositioned between deliveries (since the bowler's line to the batsman changes depending on which hand the batter uses). Ground staff operating electronic sightscreens can shift them quickly between balls, but at grounds with manual screens this repositioning can take longer and may cause brief delays.
Can a bowler complain about the sightscreen?
No. The sightscreen rules protect the batsman's right to see the ball clearly. Bowlers do not have an equivalent right to a particular background at the batting end. A bowler who is distracted by the batting end background must adapt.
What colour sightscreen is used in T20 cricket?
In T20 cricket, a white ball is used, so the sightscreen is typically dark — dark green or black — to provide maximum contrast. Day-night Test cricket uses a pink ball against a white sightscreen. The sightscreen colour is selected specifically to maximise contrast with the ball in use.