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Men's Test Match Clause 24: Fielder's Absence; Substitutes

24. Fielder's Absence; Substitutes

  • 24.1. Substitute fielders

    • 24.1.1. The umpires shall allow a substitute fielder

      • 24.1.1.1. if they are satisfied that a fielder has been injured or become ill and that this occurred during the match, or for any other wholly acceptable reason.
      • 24.1.1.2. In all other circumstances, a substitute is not allowed.

    • 24.1.2. A substitute shall not bowl or act as captain but may act as wicket-keeper only with the consent of the umpires. Note, however, clause 42.4.1.

    • 24.1.3. A nominated player may bowl or field even though a substitute has previously acted for him, subject to clauses 24.2 and 24.3.

    • 24.1.4. Squad members of the fielding or batting team who are not playing in the match and who are not acting as substitute fielders shall be required to wear a team training bib whilst on the playing area (including the area between the boundary and the perimeter fencing).

  • 24.2. Fielder absent or leaving the field of play

    • 24.2.1. A player going briefly outside the boundary while carrying out any duties as a fielder is not absent from the field of play nor, for the purposes of this clause, is he to be regarded as having left the field of play.

    • 24.2.2. If a fielder fails to take the field at the start of play or at any later time, or leaves the field during play,

      • 24.2.2.1. an umpire shall be informed of the reason for this absence.
      • 24.2.2.2. he shall not thereafter come on to the field of play during a session of play without the consent of the umpire. See clause 24.4. The umpire shall give such consent as soon as it is practicable.

    • 24.2.3. If a player is absent from the field for longer than 8 minutes, the following restrictions shall apply to their future participation in the match:

      • 24.2.3.1. The player shall not be permitted to bowl in the match until he has either been able to field, or his team has subsequently been batting, for the total length of playing time for which the player was absent (hereafter referred to as Penalty time). A player’s unexpired Penalty time shall be limited to a maximum of 120 minutes. If any unexpired Penalty time remains at the end of an innings, it is carried forward to the next and subsequent innings of the match.
      • 24.2.3.2. The player shall not be permitted to bat in the match until his team’s batting innings has been in progress for the length of playing time that is equal to the unexpired Penalty time carried forward from the previous innings. However, once his side has lost five wickets in its batting innings, he may bat immediately. If any unexpired penalty time remains at the end of that batting innings, it is carried forward to the next and subsequent innings of the match.

    • 24.2.4. If the player leaves the field before having served all of his Penalty time, the balance is carried forward as unserved Penalty time.

    • 24.2.5. On any occasion of absence, the amount of playing time for which the player is off the field shall be added to any Penalty time that remains unserved, subject to a maximum cumulative Penalty time of 120 minutes, and that player shall not bowl until all of his Penalty time has been served.

    • 24.2.6. For the purposes of clauses 24.2.3.1 and 24.2.3.2, playing time shall comprise the time play is in progress excluding lunch and tea intervals, intervals between innings and official drinks intervals. For clarity, a player’s Penalty time will continue to expire after he is dismissed, for the remainder of his team’s batting innings.

    • 24.2.7. If there is an unscheduled break in play, the stoppage time shall count as Penalty time served, provided that,

    • 24.2.7.1. the fielder who was on the field of play at the start of the break either takes the field on the resumption of play, or his side is now batting.

    • 24.2.7.2. the fielder who was already off the field at the start of the break notifies an umpire in person as soon as he is able to participate, and either takes the field on the resumption of play, or his side is now batting. Stoppage time before an umpire has been so notified shall not count towards unserved Penalty time.

    • 24.2.8. Any unserved Penalty time shall be carried forward into the next and subsequent days and innings of the match, as applicable.

  • 24.3. Penalty time not incurredA nominated player’s absence will not incur Penalty time if,

    • 24.3.1. he has suffered an external blow during the match and, as a result, has justifiably left the field or is unable to take the field.
    • 24.3.2. in the opinion of the umpires, the player has been absent or has left the field for other wholly acceptable reasons, which shall not include illness or internal injury.
    • 24.3.3. the player is absent from the field for a period of 8 minutes or less.

  • 24.4. Player returning without permissionIf a player comes on to the field of play in contravention of clause 24.2.2 and comes into contact with the ball while it is in play, the ball shall immediately become dead.

  • The umpire shall award 5 Penalty runs to the batting side.

  • Runs completed by the batsmen shall be scored together with the run in progress if they had already crossed at the instant of the offence.

  • The ball shall not count as one of the over.

  • The umpire shall inform the other umpire, the captain of the fielding side, the batsmen and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of the reason for this action.