(a) Before the toss, the umpires shall agree the boundary of the field of play with

both captains. The boundary shall if possible be marked along its whole length.

(b) The boundary shall be agreed so that no part of any sight-screen is within the

field of play.

(c) An obstacle or person within the field of play shall not be regarded as a

boundary unless so decided by the umpires before the toss. See Law 3.4(ii) (To

inform captains and scorers).

(a) Wherever practicable the boundary shall be marked by means of a white line

or a rope laid along the ground.

(b) If the boundary is marked by a white line,

        (i) the inside edge of the line shall be the boundary edge.

        (ii) a flag, post or board used merely to highlight the position of a line

            marked on the ground must be placed outside the boundary edge and is

            not itself to be regarded as defining or marking the boundary. Note,

            however, the provisions of (c) below.

(c) If a solid object is used to mark the boundary, it must have an edge or a line to

constitute the boundary edge.

        (i) For a rope, which includes any similar object of curved cross section

            lying on the ground, the boundary edge will be the line formed by the

            innermost points of the rope along its length.

        (ii) For a fence, which includes any similar object in contact with the

             ground, but with a flat surface projecting above the ground, the

             boundary edge will be the base line of the fence.

(d) If the boundary edge is not defined as in (b) or (c) above, the umpires and

captains must agree, before the toss, what line will be the boundary edge. Where

there is no physical marker for a section of boundary, the boundary edge shall be

the imaginary straight line joining the two nearest marked points of the boundary

edge.

(e) If a solid object used to mark the boundary is disturbed for any reason during

play, then if possible it shall be restored to its original position as soon as the ball

is dead. If this is not possible, then

        (i) if some part of the fence or other marker has come within the field of

            play, that portion is to be removed from the field of play as soon as the

            ball is dead.

        (ii) the line where the base of the fence or marker originally stood shall

            define the boundary edge.

(a) A boundary shall be scored and signalled by the umpire at the bowler’s end

whenever, while the ball is in play, in his opinion

        (i) the ball touches the boundary, or is grounded beyond the boundary.

        (ii) a fielder, with some part of his person in contact with the ball, touches

            the boundary or has some part of his person grounded beyond the

            boundary.

(b) The phrases ‘touches the boundary’ and ‘touching the boundary’ shall mean

contact with

either (i) the boundary edge as defined in 2 above

     or (ii) any person or obstacle within the field of play which has been

              designated a boundary by the umpires before the toss.

(c) The phrase ‘grounded beyond the boundary’ shall mean contact with

either (i) any part of a line or a solid object marking the boundary,

             except its boundary edge

    or (ii) the ground outside the boundary edge

    or (iii) any object in contact with the ground outside the boundary

              edge.

(a) Before the toss, the umpires shall agree with both captains the runs to be

allowed for boundaries. In deciding the allowances, the umpires and captains

shall be guided by the prevailing custom of the ground.

(b) Unless agreed differently under (a) above, the allowances for boundaries shall

be 6 runs if the ball having been struck by the bat pitches beyond the boundary,

but otherwise 4 runs. These allowances shall still apply even though the ball has

previously touched a fielder. See also (c) below.

(c) The ball shall be regarded as pitching beyond the boundary and 6 runs shall be

scored if a fielder

        (i) has any part of his person touching the boundary or grounded beyond

            the boundary when he catches the ball.

        (ii) catches the ball and subsequently touches the boundary or grounds

             some part of his person beyond the boundary while carrying the ball

             but before completing the catch. See Law 32 (Caught).

When a boundary is scored,

(a) the penalty for a No ball or a Wide, if applicable, shall stand together with any

penalties under any of Laws 2.6 (Player returning without permission), 18.5(b)

(Deliberate short runs) or 42 (Fair and unfair play) that apply before the boundary

is scored.

(b) the batting side, except in the circumstances of 6 below, shall additionally be

awarded whichever is the greater of

        (i) the allowance for the boundary.

        (ii) the runs completed by the batsmen, together with the run in progress if

             they have crossed at the instant the boundary is scored.

When these runs exceed the boundary allowance, they shall replace the

boundary for the purposes of Law 18.12 (Batsman returning to wicket

he has left).

If the boundary results either from an overthrow or from the wilful act of a fielder

the runs scored shall be

        (i) the penalty for a No ball or a Wide, if applicable, and penalties

            under any of Laws 2.6 (Player returning without permission),

            18.5(b) (Deliberate short runs) or 42 (Fair and unfair play) that

            are applicable before the boundary is scored

 and (ii) the allowance for the boundary

 and (iii) the runs completed by the batsmen, together with the run in

             progress if they have crossed at the instant of the throw or act.

             Law 18.12(a) (Batsman returning to wicket he has left) shall apply as from the

             instant of the throw or act.