India’s all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja was penalised for running on the danger area of the pitch on day 2 of the third and final Test of the ongoing series between India and New Zealand. As a result, New Zealand were awarded 5 extra runs and the total was added to their team total before their first innings. So, technically, New Zealand started their innings at 5-0.
When #Jadeja received a #Penalty of 5 runs, which will be added to New Zealand’s tally #indvsnz @BCCI @BLACKCAPS pic.twitter.com/Tm2I8uYXlu
— Sarath Chandran (@ImSarathC) October 9, 2016
Now, many fans who didn’t follow the entire sequence of events were caught wondering why New Zealand were awarded 5 extra runs. Umpire Oxenford made the right calls as per Law 42 of the MCC.
11. Damaging the pitch – area to be protected
(a) It is incumbent on all players to avoid unnecessary damage to the pitch. A player will be deemed to be causing avoidable damage if either umpire considers that his presence on the pitch is without reasonable cause.
It is unfair to cause deliberate damage to the pitch.
(b) An area of the pitch, to be referred to as ‘the protected area’, is defined as that area contained within a rectangle bounded at each end by imaginary lines parallel to the popping creases and 5 ft/1.52 m front of each, and on the sides by imaginary lines, one each side of the imaginary line joining the centres of the two middle stumps, each parallel to it and 1 ft/30.48 cm from it.
14. Batsman damaging the pitch
(a) If either batsman causes avoidable damage to the pitch, at the first instance the umpire seeing the contravention shall, when the ball is dead, inform the other umpire of the occurrence. The bowler’s end umpire shall then
(i) warn both batsmen that the practice is unfair and indicate that this is a first and final warning. This warning shall apply throughout the innings. The umpire shall so inform each incoming batsman.
(ii) inform the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has occurred.
(b) If there is any further instance of avoidable damage to the pitch by any batsman in that innings, the umpire seeing the contravention shall, when the ball is dead, inform the other umpire of the occurrence. The bowler’s end umpire shall then
(i) disallow all runs to the batting side from that delivery other than the penalty for a No ball or a Wide, if applicable.
(ii) additionally, award 5 penalty runs to the fielding side.
(iii) return the batsmen to their original ends.
(iv) inform the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of what has occurred.
(c) The umpires together shall report the occurrence as soon as possible after the match to the Executive of the batting side and to any Governing Body for the match who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and player or players concerned.
