Object left on the outfield

[rob.north]

One for the Bearded Burbler or one of his friends.

Umpiring a match last Saturday I noticed that the wicketkeeper had left a water bottle a few yards behind the stumps at the striker's end. If the ball strikes the bottle does it count as penalty runs in the same way as a helmet?
Law 41.2(fielding the ball) and Law 41.3( Protective helmets belonging to the fielding side) don't cover this point. I suppose the 'catch-all' Law 42 might be applied.

Rob

[Jonesy]

I think it does.
Similary if a fielder dropped his hat or even jumper and the ball struck it.

[ian herrington]

Rob, as far as I'm concerned your correct...5 runs penalty just like a helmet.....only exception to this....I think is sawdust but I'm sure BB will be here shortly.

[Bearded Burbler]

[quote="ian herrington"] I'm sure BB will be here shortly.[/quote]

As if by magic!!!

Yes Rob, it all comes under Law 41.2 which states "A fielder may field the ball with any part of his person but if, while the ball is in play he wilfully fields it otherwise,...the ball shall become dead and 5 penalty runs shall be awarded to the batting side."

I know it doesn't sound an exact match, but the officially recognised interpretation is based upon the fact that he has deliberately (or wilfully) placed it on the field of play and it has come into contact with the ball. Basically, the same applies to anything that a fielder wilfully places on the ground, whether it be a water bottle, a sweater, or anything else for that matter. The word "wilful" is important here. If a fielder's sunhat blows off accidentaly and the ball subsequently touches it, it is not a penalty (because he did not wilfully remove the hat)!

BB