Live ball and dead ball
MCC · 2017 Code · 4th edition · 2026When play starts and stops, the umpire’s intervention and whether the delivery counts in the over.
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Law 20 — When the ball becomes deadLaw 20 — Umpire interventionLaw 20 — Does the ball count?Law 20 — When the ball becomes dead
The ball comes into play when the bowler starts the run-up or, without one, the bowling action. It becomes dead on events such as a boundary, a dismissal, certain illegal fielding incidents, becoming trapped in a batter’s equipment or the end of the match.
A ball is finally settled when it is held by any fielder or stationary on the ground and the bowler’s-end umpire decides it is no longer in play. It need not be held by the bowler or wicket-keeper. Only the umpire decides this; Over and Time cannot be called while the ball remains live. Once dead, a changed decision cannot make that delivery live again.
Law 20 — Umpire intervention
An umpire calls Dead ball for a potentially serious injury, qualifying distraction, an unrecoverable ball and other specified incidents. Examples include accidental dropping before delivery, throwing towards the striker before the delivery stride, or a striker attempting a stroke wholly outside the pitch. Bails falling without a player or equipment causing it before the striker can play also stop play.
If an intruding person, animal or object disadvantages a side, the umpires intervene. A boundary can still stand if both umpires judge the ball would have reached it regardless. Usually the dead-ball moment is the incident, but specific Laws delay the call to protect the non-offending side and use the actual call as the moment.
Law 20 — Does the ball count?
A delivered ball made dead before the striker has an opportunity to play normally does not count. If the striker had that opportunity it normally counts, unless it was a No ball, Wide or a specified exception such as distraction or illegal fielding.
For a striker who was not ready, a replacement ball requires both an adequate reason and no attempt to play it. Merely declining to play without an adequate reason does not remove a valid delivery from the over.
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