The Laws of Cricket are the main rules of the game and apply by default in most games of cricket. Many tournaments, particularly one day games, add extra rules.
The Laws date back to 1744, before which different matches had different rules. The London Cricket Club drew up the Laws to make the game more consistent, something that was particularly important given a lot people were betting on matches risking disputes about who had won a game if the rules were unclear.
The Marylebone Cricket Club later took control of the Laws and technically owns the copyright on them. It is solely responsible for changing and updating the Laws, but does so today after consulting organizational bodies such as the International Cricket Council.
The Laws are regularly updated (bringing a new edition) but are occasionally issued as a completely new document (code). At the time of writing, the Laws used are the 2017 (7th) Code, updated to a third edition in 2022.
The Laws also include a preamble on the Spirit of Cricket. This is not a binding rule but a set of principles that players are encouraged to follow.
The organisers of a cricket tournament can modify or add new rules that work alongside the Laws, often covering points which the Laws intentionally don’t address. This can include:
- Fielding restrictions such as a Power Play.
- The number of overs in a limited overs game.
- The hours of play and breaks for drinks intervals.
- Restrictions of how many overs a bowler can deliver.
- Limits on the number of no balls for height (bouncers) in an over.
- The use of a free hit after a no ball, meaning the batter can only be dismissed by run out for the next delivery.
- The use of the Duckworth Lewis System.
- Not being allowed to declare in a limited overs game.