3.0 ASSESSING GROUND
CONDITIONS – FACTORS
FOR CONSIDERATION
3.1 Introduction
This section of the Guidance deals
with the factors to be considered
in assessing whether ground
conditions caused by the weather
(ie as opposed to bad light
or lightning, which are dealt
with separately at the end of
this Guidance) are dangerous
or unreasonable.
3.2 Factors to be considered in
assessing ground conditions
In the recent case, the judge referred
to and adopted the following part of
Law 3.9(d) of the 2000 Code (2nd
Edition 2003):
‘The fact that the grass and the
ball are wet and slippery does not
warrant the ground conditions
being regarded as unreasonable
or dangerous. If the umpires
consider the ground is so wet
or slippery as to deprive the
bowler of a reasonable foothold,
the fielders of the power of free
movement, or the batsmen of
the ability to play their strokes or
run between wickets, then these
conditions shall be regarded
as so bad that it would be
unreasonable for play to take
place.’ [Emphasis added and for
‘unreasonable’ read dangerous].
Play should not start, resume or
continue if conditions are dangerous
or unreasonable. Conditions are not
‘dangerous’ only when the whole
field