Cricket is known as the ‘gentleman’s game’ and it is played within a fixed set of rules, which are to be followed by every cricketer and umpire. Over the years, many changes have been made to the game and the players have to follow a few strange rules in this game as well.
Here, in this article, we bring you a list of 8 strangest and lesser-known rules in the history of cricket, have a look:
1. Mankading Rule:
Mankading has to be one of the most controversial rules in the cricket world. This rule has been named after Indian bowler Vinoo MankadAs per this rule if a bowler sees that a non-striker batsman is not on his position or has left the crease, the bowler can stop and hit the bails on the non-striker’s end and dismiss him. If the non-striker has left the crease, it technically becomes a run-out. However, this method is not regarded as considered as an act of unsportsmanlike.
2. Three Minute Rule:
As per this ‘three-minute rule,’ a batsman is given a period of 3 minutes to appear on the pitch and the failure to do so will result in him being declared as ‘retired hurt’. However, some levy is provided in extreme cases like a hat-trick spell but batsmen will stick to the time provided to him.
3. The Cap Rule:
According to this rule, the ball can’t touch a fielder’s cap or clothes before it lands into his hands. Well, any surface excluding the hands of the fielder is considered as ground. Therefore, if the ball touches the cap or clothes of the fielder before the bowler catches it, the batsman will still be considered as not out.
4. Handling The Ball:
A batsman isn’t allowed to touch the ball to stop it from hitting the stumps with either his arms or his bat and if he tries to do so, he is declared out.
5. Object-Hitting Rule:
As per this rule, if a ball hits the roof of a stadium or spider cam or any other object, it is considered as a dead ball even if it was a sure shot catch.
6. The Necessary Appeal Rule:
No matter how obvious it looks that a wicket has been taken, it is necessary for a bowler or a fielder needs to turn to the umpire and appeal for the wicket. Unless they appeal, the umpire won’t raise his finger to declare out.
7. Call Back:
As per this rule, if an umpire has declared to be out, the skipper of the fielding team has the right to ask the umpire to withdraw it. This happens in extreme cases like a runout caused by a collision between a fielder or a bowler and the batsman, or any other such reasons.
8. The Penalty Rule:
According to this rule, if a wicketkeeper has placed his helmet on the ground and the ball touches it after being hit by a batsman, the umpire will give five penalty runs to the batting side.
