MCC Clarifies Dead Ball Rule for Batters Not Ready
The clarification gives umpires a clear test to reduce inconsistent Dead ball calls on the field.
Overview
- The Marylebone Cricket Club issued the clarification on Friday, August 14, 2026, after two contrasting on-field decisions in The Hundred at Lord’s raised confusion.
- Under the guidance an umpire may call Dead ball only if the striker made no attempt to play the delivery and the umpire is satisfied the striker had a genuine reason for being unready.
- Any attempt to play the ball, even a minimal or instinctive movement, negates the Dead ball provision so the delivery stands and counts in the over.
- Umpires are told to judge context, including whether the bowler rushed or shortened their run-up, and to consider Law 41.10.1 on time-wasting when assessing a batter’s reason for being unready.
- The clarification affirms that both recent rulings at Lord’s were correct under the Laws and aims to reduce future inconsistency and opportunistic delays in fast formats.