LAW 10                 PREPARATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PLAYING AREA

1. Rolling

The pitch shall not be rolled during the match except as permitted in (a) and (b)

below.

During the match the pitch may be rolled at the request of the captain of the

batting side, for a period of not more than 7 minutes, before the start of each

innings, other than the first innings of the match, and before the start of each

subsequent day’s play. See (d) below.

In addition to the rolling permitted above, if, after the toss and before the first

innings of the match, the start is delayed, the captain of the batting side may

request to have the pitch rolled for not more than 7 minutes. However, if the

umpires together agree that the delay has had no significant effect on the state

of the pitch, they shall refuse the request for the rolling of the pitch.

If there is more than one roller available the captain of the batting side shall

have the choice.

The rolling permitted (maximum 7 minutes) before play begins on any day

shall be started not more than 30 minutes before the time scheduled or

rescheduled for play to begin. The captain of the batting side may, however,

delay the start of such rolling until not less than 10 minutes before the time

scheduled or rescheduled for play to begin, should he so desire.

If a captain declares an innings closed, or forfeits an innings, or enforces the

follow-on, and the other captain is prevented thereby from exercising his

option of the rolling permitted (maximum 7 minutes), or if he is so prevented

for any other reason, the extra time required to complete the rolling shall be

taken out of the normal playing time.

(a) If rolling is to take place the pitch shall first be swept to avoid any possible

damage by rolling in debris. This sweeping shall be done so that the 7 minutes

allowed for rolling is not affected.

(b) The pitch shall be cleared of any debris at all intervals for meals, between

innings and at the beginning of each day, not earlier than 30 minutes nor later than

10 minutes before the time scheduled or rescheduled for play to begin. See Law

15.1 (An interval).

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of (a) and (b) above, the umpires shall not

allow sweeping to take place where they consider it may be detrimental to the

surface of the pitch.

The pitch shall be mown on each day of the match on which play is expected

to take place, if ground and weather conditions allow.

In order to ensure that conditions are as similar as possible for both sides, the

outfield shall be mown on each day of the match on which play is expected to

take place, if ground and weather conditions allow.

If, for reasons other than ground and weather conditions, complete mowing of

the outfield is not possible, the Ground Authority shall notify the captains and

umpires of the procedure to be adopted for such mowing during the match.

All mowings which are carried out before the match shall be the responsibility

of the Ground Authority.

All subsequent mowings shall be carried out under the supervision of the

umpires.

(i) Mowing of the pitch on any day of the match shall be completed not

later than 30 minutes before the time scheduled or rescheduled for play

to begin on that day.

(ii) Mowing of the outfield on any day of the match shall be completed not

later than 15 minutes before the time scheduled or rescheduled for play

to begin on that day.

The pitch shall not be watered during the match.

The creases shall be re-marked whenever either umpire considers it necessary.

The umpires shall ensure that the holes made by the bowlers and batsmen are

cleaned out and dried whenever necessary to facilitate play. In matches of more

than one day’s duration, the umpires shall allow, if necessary, the re-turfing of

footholes made by the bowler in his delivery stride, or the use of quick-setting

fillings for the same purpose.

During play, the umpires shall allow the players to secure their footholds by the

use of sawdust provided that no damage to the pitch is caused and that Law 42

(Fair and unfair play) is not contravened.

Wherever appropriate, the provisions set out in 1 to 7 above shall apply.