Player conduct and sanctions
MCC · 2017 Code · 4th edition · 2026Four misconduct levels, warning and penalty rules, temporary suspension and removal for the match.
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Law 42 — Levels 1 and 2Law 42 — Level 3 temporary suspensionLaw 42 — Level 4 removalLaw 42 — Further consequencesLaw 42 — Levels 1 and 2
The umpires jointly classify unacceptable conduct, stopping play without disadvantaging the innocent side. Earlier no-ball or wide calls remain. Level 1 includes ordinary dissent, offensive language or gestures, excessive appealing, aggressive appeals towards an umpire and wilful mistreatment of ground or equipment.
A team’s first offence at any level, if Level 1, brings a first and final warning. A Level 1 offence following any earlier offence at any level by that team brings 5 penalty runs. Level 2, including serious dissent, inappropriate deliberate player contact, dangerous inappropriate throwing, or seriously insulting abuse, immediately brings 5 penalty runs.
Law 42 — Level 3 temporary suspension
Intimidating an umpire or threatening to assault someone other than an umpire is Level 3. It brings 5 penalty runs and removal for 10 overs in a match without an overs limit, or one fifth of the innings’ initially allocated overs in an overs-limited match, rounded up. The remainder of the current over does not count towards the suspension.
There is no substitute for a suspended fielder. Unserved complete overs carry into later innings; a partial over at an innings end does not count. A suspended, undismissed batter can return only after the suspension and at a wicket’s fall. If no batter is available, the innings ends. A dismissed batting-side offender starts serving the suspension in the next innings.
Law 42 — Level 4 removal
Threatening or deliberately making inappropriate physical contact with an umpire, assault, or other violence is Level 4. It brings 5 penalty runs and removal for the remainder of the match, without a substitute fielder. An offending batter is recorded retired out in the current innings unless already dismissed under Laws 32–39, and in later batting innings; a removed fielder is retired out in later batting innings.
If a captain refuses to remove a player, the match-award procedure applies. If both captains refuse over the same incident, the players leave the field and there is no result under Law 16.
Law 42 — Further consequences
The umpires report misconduct. Disciplinary stoppage time extends that day’s close and does not itself reduce last-hour overs. A bowler removed mid-over must be replaced by someone who did not bowl the previous over and will not bowl the next.
Level 3 or 4 offences by a substitute also penalise the nominated player; offences by a runner also penalise the batter using that runner. For a runner’s Level 4 offence, the batter’s corresponding penalty applies only in the current innings, while the runner’s lasts for the match. If an offending wicket-keeper is removed, only a nominated player may replace them as keeper.
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