THE LAWS OF CRICKET 2017 CODE (2nd edition – 2019)
© Marylebone Cricket Club
LAW 31 APPEALS
31.1 Umpire not to give batsman out without an appeal
- Neither umpire shall give a batsman out, even though he/she may be out under the Laws, unless appealed to by a fielder. This shall not debar a batsman who is out under any of the Laws from leaving the wicket without an appeal having been made. Note, however, the provisions of 31.7.
31.2 Batsman dismissed
- A batsman is dismissed if he/she is
either given out by an umpire, on appeal
or out under any of the Laws and leaves the wicket as in 31.1.
31.3 Timing of appeals
- For an appeal to be valid, it must be made before the bowler begins his/her run-up or, if there is no run-up, his/her bowling action to deliver the next ball, and before Time has been called.
- The call of Over does not invalidate an appeal made prior to the start of the following over, provided Time has not been called. See Laws 12.2 (Call of Time) and 17.2 (Start of an over).
31.4 Appeal “How’s That?”
- An appeal “How’s That?” covers all ways of being out.
31.5 Answering appeals
- The striker’s end umpire shall answer all appeals arising out of any of Laws 35 (Hit wicket), 39 (Stumped) or 38 (Run out) when this occurs at the wicket-keeper’s end. The bowler’s end umpire shall answer all other appeals.
- When an appeal is made, each umpire shall answer on any matter that falls within his/her jurisdiction.
- When a batsman has been given Not out, either umpire may answer an appeal, made in accordance with 31.3, if it is on a further matter and is within his/her jurisdiction.
31.6 Consultation by umpires
- Each umpire shall answer appeals on matters within his/her own jurisdiction. If an umpire is doubtful about any point that the other umpire may have been in a better position to see, he/she shall consult the latter on this point of fact and shall then give the decision. If, after consultation, there is still doubt remaining, the decision shall be Not out.
31.7 Batsman leaving the wicket under a misapprehension
- An umpire shall intervene if satisfied that a batsman, not having been given out, has left the wicket under a misapprehension of being out. The umpire intervening shall call and signal Dead ball to prevent any further action by the fielding side and shall recall the batsman.
- A batsman may be recalled at any time up to the instant when the ball comes into play for the next delivery, unless it is the final wicket of the innings, in which case it should be up to the instant when the umpires leave the field.
31.8 Withdrawal of an appeal
- The captain of the fielding side may withdraw an appeal only after obtaining the consent of the umpire within whose jurisdiction the appeal falls. If such consent is given, the umpire concerned shall, if applicable, revoke the decision and recall the batsman.
- The withdrawal of an appeal must be before the instant when the ball comes into play for the next delivery or, if the innings has been completed, the instant when the umpires leave the field.