MCC issues clarification on Obstructed the Field incident during West Indies vs Sri Lanka Women’s ODI

MCC, the historian of the Laws of Cricket, has officially come forward to explain the rule behind a scenario where the batter may be given out for obstructing the field during an international match. The clarification has come after Deandra Dottin was given out Obstructed the field of the second ODI between West Indies Women and Sri Lanka Women at the St George’s Park on Sunday, February 22. 

The incident happened during the 30th over of the match in the second innings. Dottin, batting at a precarious situation when the Caribbeans were chasing a 209-run target set by the Lankans, tapped the ball and gave it back to wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana after it had come back off her pads. Following a short discussion, the on-field umpires Candace la Borde and Vrinda Rathi confirmed the dismissal.

What does the Law say?

The MCC has mandated that an appeal by the fielding team is quintessential before ruling a batter out. In fact, if the fielding team appeals, the umpires have to rule the batter as dismissed, and no further appeal may be made by the batter in question.

According to the Law 37.4 set by the MCC, 

“Either batter is out Obstructing the field if, at any time while the ball is in play and without the consent of a fielder, he/she uses the bat or any part of his/her person to return the ball to any fielder.”

But when is a batter not out for obstructing the field?

Yes, the same MCC ruling further discusses,

“A batter shall not be out Obstructing the field if the obstruction or distraction is accidental, or the obstruction is in order to avoid injury, or in the case of the striker, he/she makes a second or subsequent strike to guard his/her wicket lawfully as in Law 34.3 (Ball lawfully struck more than once).”

After going through both the provisions under the related Law, it may be concluded that Dottin was rightfully adjudged out in the recently concluded encounter.