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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchUnder MCC Law 41.9, the fielding side receives a first and final warning for time-wasting in an innings. If it wastes time again outside an over, the batting side is awarded five penalty runs. If the repeat offence happens during an over, the bowler is suspended for the rest of the innings instead; Law 41.9 does not award five runs for that case.
How the fielding-side time-wasting rule works
MCC Law 41.9 says, “It is unfair for any fielder to waste time.” It covers an unnecessarily slow over and other time-wasting by the fielding captain or a fielder. The Law sets no numerical time limit for this procedure: the umpire judges whether time has been wasted.
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First instance: a warning
If the ball is in play, the umpire calls and signals Dead ball and informs the other umpire. The bowler’s-end umpire gives the fielding captain a first and final warning and tells the batters. It applies to any further fielding-side time-wasting in that innings.
Repeat offence outside an over: five runs
If time is wasted again outside an over, the umpire calls and signals Dead ball if the ball is in play, then awards five penalty runs to the batting side. The bowler’s-end umpire explains the decision to the fielding captain, informs the batters, and tells the batting captain as soon as practicable.
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Repeat offence during an over: bowler suspended
If the further offence occurs during an over, the prescribed sanction is different: the bowler’s-end umpire directs the fielding captain to suspend the bowler immediately. That bowler cannot bowl again in the innings. If the over needs to be completed, another bowler must finish it; that replacement must not have bowled any part of the previous over or bowl any part of the next over.
The umpires also report the occurrence to the offending side’s executive and any governing body responsible for the match. Those bodies may take further action against the captain, individuals, or team.
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How the five penalty runs are recorded
When the ball is dead, the umpire signals batting-side penalty runs. They are recorded as penalty extras, in addition to any other penalties and to runs scored from the deliveries immediately before or after the award. The five runs do not count as runs from either delivery, and the batters do not change ends solely because of the award. If penalty runs are awarded to the fielding side, they are added to its most recently completed innings total, or to its next innings if it has not completed one. See MCC Laws 41.9 and 41.17.
Fielding-side and batter time-wasting are different rules
Law 41.10 deals separately with time-wasting by batters. Its repeat-offence consequence reverses the recipient: five penalty runs go to the fielding side, not the batting side.
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| Situation | First response | Repeat-offence consequence | Recipient of five runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fielding-side time-wasting outside an over | First and final warning to the fielding captain; batters are informed | Five penalty runs | Batting side |
| Fielding-side time-wasting during an over | First and final warning at the first instance | Bowler suspended for the rest of the innings; another eligible bowler completes the over if needed | No five-run award is specified by Law 41.9 for this case |
| Batter time-wasting | Umpire warns both batters; incoming batters are told the warning applies throughout the innings | Attempted run is disallowed, batters return to their original ends, and five penalty runs are awarded | Fielding side |
The batter-side procedure is set out in MCC Law 41.10.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Check the competition’s playing conditions
MCC’s Laws provide the general rules of cricket. At international level, the ICC applies playing conditions, which can affect how a rule is applied in a particular competition or format. Check the relevant conditions before describing a specific match; the ICC Men’s ODI Clause 41 is an official format-specific example.
The 2026 MCC edition retains fielding-side time-wasting as Law 41.9 and penalty-run provisions as Law 41.17. The edition is available in the 2026 Laws of Cricket; MCC also explains its 2026 changes. For more context on the distinction between Laws and playing conditions, see MCC’s overview of the Laws.
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