Obstructing the Field and Timed Out Explained

Most dismissals in cricket are bowled, caught, lbw or run out. A handful of modes are so rare that many fans go years without seeing one. Two of them are obstructing the field and timed out. Both are covered by specific Laws, and both have attracted headlines in recent years because they raise questions about fairness and the spirit of the game.

Obstructing the field

Under Law 37, a batter can be given out if they wilfully obstruct the opposition by word or action. The Law covers a number of situations, including deliberately hindering a fielder who is attempting to take a catch or make a run-out, and wilfully preventing a catch from being taken. The key word is wilfully, so an accidental collision does not count.

The Law also covers the situation that used to be called handled the ball. Since the 2017 revision of the Laws, touching the ball with a hand not holding the bat without the consent of the opposition, when it is a legal delivery and has not yet been secured by a fielder, is treated as a form of obstruction. The result is that fewer separate dismissal types appear in the list than in the past.

When obstruction can occur

Typical examples include:

• A batter changing direction while running, with the clear aim of getting in the way of a throw at the stumps
• A batter who deliberately shields the ball from a fielder after playing a shot
• A batter who blocks the fielder’s path to prevent a catch
• A batter who uses the hand or body to stop the ball hitting the stumps without permission

The decision rests with the umpires, who must decide whether the act was deliberate. In most cases the fielding side must appeal, and the umpires may consult each other or the third umpire to assess what happened. A batter is allowed to defend their wicket with the bat, and they are allowed to take reasonable steps to avoid being hit, so umpires distinguish carefully between natural movement and a deliberate act.

A famous example in Test cricket is Len Hutton’s dismissal against South Africa at The Oval in 1951, when he is widely recorded as the only batter dismissed obstructing the field in a Test match. Such cases remain extremely rare at international level.

Timed out

Law 40 deals with the arrival of a new batter. When a wicket falls or a batter retires, the incoming batter must be ready to receive the ball, or the other batter must be ready to receive the next ball, within three minutes of the dismissal, in the Laws as written. The playing conditions for specific competitions may shorten the time. If the incoming batter fails to do so, the fielding side can appeal for timed out and, if the umpire agrees, the batter is given out.

A batter who is delayed for a legitimate reason, such as an injury or a problem with equipment outside their control, can be allowed some leeway at the umpires’ discretion. The Law is designed to stop time-wasting rather than catch out an unlucky player.

A notable timed-out case

The best-known international example came at the 2023 men’s World Cup, when Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews was given out timed out against Bangladesh in Delhi, after a problem with his helmet strap delayed him. It was the first such dismissal in a men’s international match. Bangladesh’s captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed, and the dismissal sparked heated discussion across the cricket world. It was ruled within the Laws, though some argued that the spirit of the game should have prevailed.

Why these dismissals matter

Both dismissals sit at the intersection of the Laws and sportsmanship. They are legal, and umpires have to apply them when an appeal is made, but teams often hesitate to appeal because of the reaction they may attract. Understanding the rules helps fans see why the officials make the choices they do, and why the sport’s lawmakers regularly revisit the wording to make the intention clear.

Key takeaways

Obstructing the field is about wilful interference, while timed out is about the speed with which the next batter arrives. Neither is common, but both are part of the Laws, and knowing them can help batters avoid an unlucky and avoidable dismissal.

Frequently asked questions

What is obstructing the field?

It is a dismissal where a batter wilfully obstructs the fielding side by word or action, for example by deliberately blocking a fielder trying to make a run-out or catch.

How long does a new batter have to be ready?

The Laws allow three minutes after a wicket falls, though specific competitions’ playing conditions may set a shorter time.

Who was the first men’s international batter given out timed out?

Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews, against Bangladesh at the 2023 World Cup in Delhi.