How Law 42 (Unfair Play) Changed the Game

There’s always been a fine line in cricket between clever gamesmanship and flat-out cheating. A little delay here, a cheeky field change there — and suddenly, what seemed tactical starts to feel shady. That’s where Law 42 comes in: cricket’s official response to all things sneaky, sketchy, or just a bit too smart for their own good.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens when players deliberately scuff the ball, slow the game down to kill momentum, or test the limits of aggressive bowling, Law 42 has the answer — and usually, a penalty to match.

It’s the law that governs unfair play. And while it might sound like legal fine print, it’s shaped some of cricket’s biggest moments — from international scandals to fiery on-field confrontations. More than any rulebook technicality, Law 42 is the guardian of the game’s moral compass.

This isn’t about nitpicking. It’s about protecting the balance between fierce competition and outright foul play — a balance that’s become even harder to manage in cricket’s modern, hyper-competitive era.

1. What Is Law 42 and Why Does It Exist?

Law 42 of the MCC Laws of Cricket is dedicated entirely to unfair play. It exists to preserve the integrity of the sport — ensuring that tactics don’t cross the line from competitive to unethical. It defines a wide range of prohibited behaviours, broken down into distinct categories, including:

• Ball tampering: Altering the condition of the ball using foreign substances or unnatural actions.

• Time-wasting: Deliberate delays, slow over rates, or unnecessary field changes.

• Pitch damage: Unwarranted intrusion into the protected area of the pitch.

• Dangerous bowling: Delivering beamers, bouncers above shoulder height, or intimidatory tactics.

• Distracting the batter: Verbal, visual, or movement-based distractions once the ball is in play.

The law empowers umpires to:

• Issue warnings for first offences

• Award penalty runs to the opposing team

• Remove bowlers or even report players for serious infractions

It exists not to sterilise the game, but to preserve its competitive integrity. In a sport so reliant on balance — between bat and ball, tactics and sportsmanship — Law 42 acts as the referee behind the scenes.

And while many fans know it in theory, the law's impact is often only truly understood when it’s broken.

2. The Sandpaper Scandal: A Turning Point

No discussion of Law 42 is complete without revisiting the moment it exploded into global consciousness — the 2018 sandpaper scandal.

During the third Test between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town, Australian fielder Cameron Bancroft was caught on camera attempting to rough up one side of the ball using a piece of sandpaper. What followed was one of cricket’s most public moral reckonings in recent history.

The fallout:

• Bancroft, David Warner, and Steve Smith received significant bans

• The ICC and Cricket Australia faced intense pressure to respond with clarity

• Fans across the world began scrutinising not just Australian players, but ball-handling practices everywhere

This moment forced the ICC to reassert the relevance of Law 42 — especially around ball tampering. While ball tampering had occurred before (think Faf du Plessis, John Lever, and Waqar Younis), never had it been this blatant, or this widely condemned.

In the aftermath, the ICC upgraded the maximum penalty for ball tampering from a Level 2 to a Level 3 offence, allowing for longer suspensions and stiffer fines.

Law 42 wasn’t rewritten, but its teeth were sharpened — and its visibility sky-rocketed. Now, every hand that touches the ball is a potential headline.

3. Ball Tampering: The Most Visible Form of Unfair Play

Tampering with the ball is perhaps the most notorious and visually compelling form of unfair play — not least because it directly impacts the outcome of a game.

Ball tampering under Law 42 involves any unnatural alteration of the ball’s condition. The law explicitly prohibits:

• Scratching it with fingernails or zips

• Using sugary sweets (like mints) to enhance shine via saliva

• Applying substances like Vaseline, resin, or lip balm

• Scuffing it with abrasive materials like sandpaper, dirt, or spikes

The aim? To create exaggerated swing — either conventional or reverse — by manipulating airflow.

Historic examples:

• John Lever (1977) allegedly used Vaseline-coated gauze strips

• Pakistan’s forfeited Test at The Oval (2006) after ball-tampering allegations

• Faf du Plessis fined multiple times for using mint-laced saliva

While some fans view this as clever gamesmanship, Law 42 treats it as serious misconduct. The reason is simple: it undermines the balance of the game.

Cricket is built on the idea that both sides play with the same tools — altering the ball, much like using a corked bat, breaks that code.

Since the post-sandpaper crackdown, the spotlight on ball maintenance has never been stronger. Fielders often polish the ball with care, and cameras zoom in on every rub and shine.

4. Time-Wasting and the Clock Game

Not all unfair play is physical. Some of it is pure theatre — delaying tactics that frustrate opponents and break rhythm. Law 42 accounts for that too.

Time-wasting includes:

• Deliberately slow over rates

• Fielders repositioning excessively

• Bowlers taking long walks back to their mark

• Batters endlessly re-tying shoelaces or fiddling with gear

Why do teams do it? Often to:

• Let a bowler recover between overs

• Disrupt a batter’s concentration

• Manage light conditions in late-day Tests

• Avoid having to bowl a specific number of overs before stumps

Law 42 allows umpires to intervene if they believe such actions are being used strategically to manipulate time. Penalties include:

• Verbal warnings

• Five-run penalties

• Docking of overs (especially in limited-overs formats)

• Fines or suspension for repeat offences

Modern cricket has taken this further. In white-ball formats, over-rate penalties now include fielding restrictions (e.g. only four fielders allowed outside the circle), incentivising quicker play.

Time-wasting may seem petty, but its impact is real — and Law 42 ensures it doesn’t become the secret weapon of tactical captains looking to outwit the spirit of the game.

5. Damage to the Pitch: Subtle Yet Serious

Cricket may look like a gentleman’s game, but a damaged pitch can turn it into a battlefield — and Law 42 is crystal clear on what players can and can’t do to that precious strip of turf.

The most common offence? Treading on the protected area — the central zone of the pitch between the two creases. Fast bowlers, in particular, have to be mindful of their follow-through. Repeated encroachment can leave rough patches that spinners exploit later in the game.

But pitch damage isn’t always obvious. Other subtle forms include:

• Scraping the boot along the pitch

• Running straight down the track between wickets

• Dragging the bat to rough up the surface

• Using spikes carelessly during field changes

Under Law 42, umpires monitor these actions closely. Here’s how they respond:

• First time? A warning to the offending player or captain

• Repeat offence? Five penalty runs to the opposing team

• Continued breaches? The bowler can be removed from the attack

These measures aren’t overkill — they’re crucial. A damaged pitch can unfairly tilt the game toward one side, especially on spinning tracks in Asia or seam-friendly surfaces in England. Protecting it keeps the contest fair.

And if you’re wondering whether pros take this seriously? Ask any bowler how they feel when the opposing batter deliberately scuffs their landing spot. You’ll get a Law 42-worthy glare in return.

6. Dangerous Bowling and Intimidation

Aggression is part of fast bowling’s DNA. But there’s a line — and Law 42 draws it clearly. It’s the law that ensures “hostile” doesn’t become “harmful.”

This section covers:

• Beamers: Full-toss deliveries above waist height. Dangerous and illegal.

• Bouncers: Allowed — but only up to two per over in Tests. More than that? Warning territory.

• Deliberate intimidation: If umpires believe a bowler is targeting the batter physically rather than tactically, they can step in.

Law 42 enables umpires to:

• Issue official warnings

• Disallow the delivery (no ball + penalty)

• Remove the bowler from the attack if behaviour continues

Famous examples include:

• Javagal Srinath warned for persistent bouncers

• Shoaib Akhtar pulled up for beamers

• Umpires halting play in women’s matches over concerns of pace imbalance

What’s key here is intent. Not all short balls are unfair. A well-directed bouncer is a legitimate weapon. But when it becomes a pattern — aimed at the body, without variation or purpose — it crosses into dangerous play.

Law 42 doesn’t neuter fast bowling. It simply keeps it from becoming reckless.

7. How Umpires Enforce Law 42 on the Field

So how does Law 42 actually play out in the middle of a match? Through a combination of warnings, penalties, and — in extreme cases — disciplinary action after the game.

The typical enforcement flow:

1. Observation: Umpires note suspicious behaviour (ball tampering, time-wasting, etc.)

2. Verbal warning: The first formal step, communicated to the player and captain

3. Penalty runs: If behaviour continues, the opposing side is awarded five runs

4. Suspension from play: A bowler may be removed; a player may be reported

5. Match referee action: Fines, bans, or demerit points may follow

In recent years, the use of technology has helped umpires enforce Law 42 more consistently. High-definition cameras and ball-tracking tools capture everything — from how often a fielder touches the ball, to whether a boot grazed the pitch.

The law empowers umpires, but it also holds them accountable. They must judge not just the action, but the intent behind it — a delicate balance in high-stakes matches.

Crucially, Law 42 exists not to punish players at every turn, but to deter them from pushing too far. It gives umpires the authority they need to protect the spirit of the game — without becoming the centre of it.

8. Law 42 in the Modern Game: Fairer or Just More Scrutinised?

Here’s the big question: has Law 42 genuinely made the game cleaner? Or has it simply made cricketers more cautious — and camera-aware?

There’s no denying that since high-profile breaches like the sandpaper scandal, ball tampering and pitch damage are now far less common. Teams tread carefully. Players know every move is televised. Even routine ball shines are done with a touch of paranoia.

But Law 42 has also faced criticism:

• Some feel it’s too vague — especially around judging intent

• Others argue it has made the game too sanitised, removing aggression and flair

• And in rare cases, it’s been enforced inconsistently, leading to frustration among fans and captains alike

Still, the positives outweigh the gripes:

• Batters are safer

• Pitch integrity is preserved

• Matches are less prone to manipulation

Modern cricket is faster, flashier, and far more pressurised than it once was. In that environment, Law 42 acts as the game’s moral compass — not just catching foul play, but reminding players what fair play looks like.

Conclusion: Why Law 42 Still Matters in Cricket’s Evolution

Law 42 might not make headlines every week, but its impact on cricket is constant and profound. It’s the law that reminds players — and fans — that this isn’t just a contest of skill, but of values.

When a player resists tampering with the ball in a high-pressure moment…
When a bowler dials down the aggression after a warning…
When umpires protect the pitch like it's sacred ground…
That’s Law 42 in action.

It’s not about being the fun police. It’s about making sure cricket, in all its formats, stays honest — especially in a time when money, media, and margins are bigger than ever.

Because in a game built on respect, a single unfair move can undo an entire innings of brilliance. And Law 42 is there to stop that from happening.