Editing Obstructing the field (section)

==Definition==
Obstructing the field is Law 37 in the [[Laws of cricket]] established by the [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] (MCC). A batsman can be given out for obstructing the field if he wilfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action.<ref name="mcc">{{cite web |url=https://www.lords.org/mcc/laws-of-cricket/laws/law-37-obstructing-the-field/ |title=Law 37 – Obstructing the field |publisher=MCC |access-date=29 September 2017}}</ref>

Law 37 describes three specific circumstances where this applies, but the Law is not limited to these circumstances:
*If, in the act of playing the ball, the batsmen wilfully strikes the ball with a hand not holding the bat, unless this is to avoid injury.{{efn|This situation was previously covered in a separate Law:[[Handled the ball]].}}
*If either batsman should wilfully obstruct or distract a fielder preventing a catch being made.
*If, at any time while the ball is in play and without the consent of a fielder, he uses his bat or any part of his person, to return the ball to any fielder.

In the second specific case, the striker is out, as it would have been him who could have been caught were it not for the obstruction. In any other case it is the batsman who obstructs who is out .{{efn|If it is a [[no-ball|No ball]] the batsman cannot be caught out, the obstruction of a catch is still out if wilful, but it is the batsman who obstructs who is out}}

If a batsman deliberately alters his course whilst running, or interposes his bat, to block the path of a ball thrown at the stumps by a fielder, the umpire must decide whether the action is wilful.<ref>Marylebone Cricket Club, Tom Smith's Cricket Umpiring and Scoring, Marylebone Cricket Club, 2019</ref> The umpire does not have to judge whether the fielding would have been likely to effect a [[Run out]].

The bowler does not get credit for any obstruction dismissal. Any runs completed before the offence is committed are scored (unless the obstruction prevents a catch being made{{efn|In this case any penalty runs will stand.<ref name="mcc"/>}}).