Danger Area in Cricket | Protected Area in Cricket | Damaging the pitch explained | Unfair Play Law in Cricket Explained

 

On 16th June 2016, in a World Cup match between India and Pakistan, Mohammad Amir received 2 official warnings from the on-field umpire for running in the Danger Area/Protected Area. If Amir does it again then he will not be allowed to bowl for rest of the innings.

Well, what is this danger area in cricket? Why players are not allowed to in that area? Let's discuss about the Danger Area/Protected Area in cricket.

What is Danger Area/Protected Area in cricket?

The central portion of the pitch which is 2 feet wide and almost 5 feet from each popping crease is called a danger area/protected area.

Why players are restricted to step into the protected area in cricket?

When a bowler bowls a ball/delivery,  it pitches in the protected area. So, no player is allowed to step/run in this zone as it might cause foot marks on the pitch giving the bowler an unfair advantage over the batsman.

Let's take an incident which occurred in 2016, during a Test match between India and New Zealand. In that match Ravindra Jadeja was found running in the Danger Area twice, he was found running into the protected area by the umpire Kumar Dharmasena and second time, it was the umpire Bruce Oxenford who caught him and penalize India by 5 runs and gave a final warning to Jadeja. 

Ravindra Jadeja also fined 50% of his match fee, in addition to that 3 demerit points (ICC Rankings) has been added.

Let's discuss all the possible cases what happens if a player found running/stepping into the protected area/danger area in cricket.

Case - 1: What happens when a bowler found running/stepping into the protected area/danger area?

In case if a bowler found stepping into the protected area, the on-field umpire gives him (bowler) a warning to avoid running into the danger area. If the bowler seems runs again in the danger area, the on-field umpire will give him the second and final warning to the bowler. If the bowler breaks this rule thrice, he will be removed from his spell and may not be bowl again for rest of the innings.

Case - 2: What happens when a batsman found running/stepping into the protected area/danger area in cricket?

In batsmen case, if a batsman found running in the protected area he will receive the first and final warning from the on-field umpire and this warning is applied through the innings and each incoming batsman will be warned by the on-field umpire. If a batsman seems does it again the umpire will disallow all the runs from that delivery other than the penalty of no ball or wide and the umpire will award 5 runs to the fielding side and return the batsmen to their original end, which means if a batsman changes their ends by running 1 run, then they will be sent back to their previous ends.

Case - 3: What happens when a fielder found running/stepping into the protected area/danger area in cricket?

In case, a fielder found damaging the pitch or found running/stepping into the protected area/danger area, he (fielder) will be warned by the on-field umpire for the first and final time. If it is repeated again, batting side will be awarded 5 runs.