Editing Obstructing the field (section)

==Returning the ball to a fielder==

When, after being played with the bat or hitting the batter, the ball comes to rest nearer the batter that any fielder, it may seem natural, polite and quickest for the batter to pick up the ball and give it to a fielder. There is some risk that the fielding team may construe the act to be a wilful obstruction.

Traditionally, a batter would ask the fielding team's consent to touch the ball before doing so, but even if not, if there were any goodwill between the teams, the fielding team would be unlikely to appeal, and unlikely to have their appeal confirmed by their captain, but the umpire would be obliged to give the batsman out if an appeal was made. Batters were advised to ask to avoid the possibility of 'unpleasantness.' <ref name="Rait Kerr">R.S. Rait Kerr, The Laws of Cricket Their History and Growth, Longmans, 1950</ref>

In the modern professional game the question is sensitive, as the fielding side may be trying to keep the ball dry and clean so that they may obtain [[reverse swing]], and may well decline the batter's offer to touch the ball. 

The first such dismissal in elite cricket was in an U19 World Cup game against Zimbabwe on 3rd Feb 2024 when England's Hamza Shaikh picked up a stationary ball that he had just played at, and tossed it to the wicketkeeper, who appealed before even catching the ball. Shaikh was given out after lengthy consultation between the onfield and third umpires. Commentators have been uncomfortable with the decision, but the umpires only have to decide whether the ball is in play (if the fielding side acted as if they regarded it as so, that is sufficient) and whether the batter's action was wilful (picking the ball up without consent is sufficient). <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/get-a-grip-hamza-shaikh-given-out-obstructed-the-field-at-under-19-world-cup-1419568/ |title='Get a grip': Hamza Shaikh given out for obstructing the field at Under-19 World Cup|publisher=ESPN Cricinfo|access-date=4 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/england/thats_shocker_england_hamza_shaikh_dismissed_obstructing_field_under19_cricket_world_cup_zimbabwe.html/ |title="That's a shocker" - England's Hamza Shaikh dismissed obstructing the field in Under-19 Cricket World Cup win over Zimbabwe|publisher=The Cricketer |access-date=4 February 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/cricket/13062783/hell-be-livid-england-batter-controversially-out-obstructing-the-field|title=Obstructing the field? England's Hamza Shaikh controversially out at Under-19 Cricket World Cup|publisher=Sky Sports |access-date=4 February 2024}}</ref>