Substitutes and runners

A match is played between two sides, each of eleven players, one of whom shall be captain.

By agreement a match may be played between sides of more or less than eleven players, but not more than eleven players may field at any time.


Objection to substitutes

Each captain shall nominate his players in writing to one of the umpires before the toss. No player may be changed after the nomination without the consent of the opposing captain.


Restrictions on the role of substitutes

If at any time the captain is not available, a deputy shall act for him.

  If a captain is not available during the period in which the toss is to take place, then the deputy must be responsible for the nomination of the players, if this has not already been done, and for the toss. See 2 above and Law 12.4 (The toss).

  At any time after the toss, the deputy must be one of the nominated players


A player for whom a substitute has acted

The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit and traditions of the game as well as within the Laws. See The
Preamble-The Spirit of Cricket and Law 42.1
(Fair and unfair play - responsibility of captains).


Fielder absent or leaving the field

The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit and traditions of the game as well as within the Laws. See The
Preamble-The Spirit of Cricket and Law 42.1
(Fair and unfair play - responsibility of captains).


Player returning without permission

The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit and traditions of the game as well as within the Laws. See The
Preamble-The Spirit of Cricket and Law 42.1
(Fair and unfair play - responsibility of captains).


Runner

The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit and traditions of the game as well as within the Laws. See The
Preamble-The Spirit of Cricket and Law 42.1
(Fair and unfair play - responsibility of captains).


Transgression of the Laws by a batsman who has a runner

  A batsman's runner is subject to the Laws. He will be regarded as a batsman except where there are specific provisions for his role as a runner. See 7 above and Law 29.2 (Which is a batsman's ground).

  A batsman with a runner will suffer the penalty for any infringement of the Laws by his runner as though he had been himself responsible for the infringement. In particular he will be out if his runner is out under any of Laws 33 (Handled the ball), 37 (Obstructing the field) or 38 (Run out).

  When a batsman with a runner is striker he remains himself subject to the Laws and will be liable to the penalties that any infringement of them demands. Additionally, if he is out of his ground when the wicket is put down at the wicket-keeper's end, he will be out in the circumstances of Law 38 (Run out) or Law 39 (Stumped) irrespective of the position of the non-striker or of the runner. If he is thus dismissed, runs completed by the runner and the other batsman before the dismissal shall not be scored. However, the penalty for a No ball or a Wide shall stand, together with any penalties to either side that may be awarded when the ball is dead. See Law 42.17 (Penalty runs).

  When a batsman with a runner is not the striker

• he remains subject to Laws 33 (Handled the ball) and 37 (Obstructing the field) but is otherwise out of the
• he shall stand where directed by the striker's end umpire so as not to interfere with play.
• he will be liable, notwithstanding (i) above, to the penalty demanded by the Laws should he commit any act of unfair play.