Filed under Cricket Rules & Laws

Itsonlycricket has already released two articles on what is power play in one day cricket and Twenty20 cricket. In following, we explain the complicated rule once again for the reason that ICC have recently made some changes to this Powerplay law.

But this time, we'll also look at some other field restriction rules of cricket its fans are not usually aware of. bring your reading glasses..

Do you understand
Inner circle : which is 30 yards from stumps on both ends of cricket pitch.

Now the Powerplay rule is divided into three blocks : block 1 = first 10 overs of every ODI innings. Block 2 & 3 = 5 overs each, depending upon when the fielding captain opts for them. If on-field captain don't call for 2nd & 3rd set of powerplay overs - last overs of that innings would become power-play automatically.

Powerplay basically means keeping all but 2 fielders outside that 30 yard circle. Captains (from 1st October 2007) are now allowed for 3 fielders outside 30 yards once the first block of power plays (first 10 overs) are finished. means - Powerplay 2 and Powerplay 3 can have 3 fielders on boundary whereas Powerplay 1 has only 2 fielders outside inner circle. Moreover - fielding captain have to keep two fielders in catching position (15 yards) in first 10 mandatory powerplay while he can opt for no slip or catching fielders in Power Play 2 and 3. Mind you - if a fast bowler is bowling - slip & Gully fielders can go farther than 15 yards yet considered as catching fielders.

ICC has finished up the super-sub rule and they have made it mandatory for on-field umpires to change the ball in play after 34th over of that innings is bowled. In case of Powerplays - umpires raise their arm in circle to signal commencement of power play overs.

Important to note that during a one day international where number of overs has to be reduced from full quota of 50 overs, number of powerplay overs in each innings also get reduced. and accordingly, the sequence in which the captains have to take'em. indulge into following table..

No. overs in match	No. of Power Play overs	Sequence taken
20-22	8	4+2+2
23-24	9	4+3+2
25-27	10	5+3+2
28-29	11	6+3+2
30-32	12	6+3+3
33-34	13	7+3+3
35-37	14	7+4+3
39-39	15	8+4+3
40-42	16	8+4+4
43-44	17	9+4+4
45-47	18	9+5+4
48-49	19	10+5+4
49-50	20	10+5+5

Fielding restriction in cricket many don't know
**At any instant, a captain can't keep more than 5 fielders on leg side.
**No more than 2 fielders can be set behind square-leg line of a batsman. If a deep fine leg, deep backward square leg & leg gully or slip is set by a fielding captain - ITS A NO BALL.
**At any instant, no more that 5 fielders can be set on the boundary.. which means except wicket-keeper & the bowler - at least 4 fielders have to be inside the 30 yard circle any moment of a one-day cricket match.
**In T20 or Twenty cricket, field power play overs last for only 6 overs at the start of each innings. A one day International can be reduced (cause of rain or other factors) only as short as 20-20 over each side.. no less.

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