Time Wasting in Cricket
What is time wasting in cricket? How the Laws prevent deliberate time-wasting, what penalties apply, and why it matters in Test match cricket.
Time wasting in cricket is a serious offence under Law 41. Both teams have an obligation to ensure play proceeds at a reasonable pace. Deliberate time wasting to gain an unfair advantage — such as preventing the opposition from having enough overs to press for a result — is penalised by umpires and match referees.
Forms of Time Wasting
- Fielding side: taking an unusually long time to set field, ball returns to the bowler via unnecessary throws.
- Batsmen: taking excessive time between overs, excessive equipment adjustments after each delivery.
- Bowlers: ball-polishing for excessive time before each delivery.
- Both sides: unnecessary drinks breaks, excessive medical attendances on the field.
Over-Rate Penalties
In international cricket, teams are required to bowl a minimum number of overs per hour. If a team fails to bowl the required overs in the allotted time, they face over-rate penalties — fines and ICC demerit points for the captain and players.
| Format | Expected over rate |
|---|---|
| Test cricket | 15 overs per hour (approximately) |
| ODI | 14.28 overs per hour (50 overs in 3.5 hours) |
| T20I | 14.28 overs per hour (20 overs in 85 minutes) |
Frequently asked questions
Can a match be stopped for time wasting?
No — the match continues. The umpires issue warnings and report the team to the match referee, who deals with penalties post-match.
Is slow over rate the same as deliberate time wasting?
No — slow over rates are a broader offence (a team might bowl slowly due to injuries, weather, complex field changes). Deliberate time wasting is a specific, intentional act to gain unfair advantage.