1959-60

T -
If
388
CRICKET
than the pitch, of
water or dampness at any time, except
while play is in progress.
(ii) Prior to tossing for choice of innings the artificial drying
of the pitch and outfield shall be at the discretion of the
Groundsman. Thereafter and throughout the match
the drying of the outfield may be undertaken at any time
by the Groundsman, but the drying of the pitch shall be
carried out only on the instructions and under the super-
vision of the Umpires. The Umpires shall be empowered
to have the pitch dried without a reference to the Captains
at any time they are of the opinion that it is unfit for play.
(iii) In wet weather, the umpires shall see that the foot-holes
made by the bowlers and batsmen are cleaned, dried and
filled up with sawdust at any time during the match,
although the game is not actually in progress.
The groundsman, without instructions from the um-
pires, may also clean out in this way
s
foot-holes, provided
they are not on any part of the pitch, more than
3
ft. 6 ins.
in front of the popping creases.
The drying of the footholds on the pitch itself may
be undertaken, as directed by the Umpires, at any time.
The Umpires may also direct the Groundsman to protect
against further rain marks made by the bowlers, even
though they may be more than
3
ft. 6 ins. in front of
the popping creases, provided they are not between wicket
and wicket, with loose sawdust, which, however, shall be
removed prior to the resumption of play.
(iv) The umpires shall ascertain from the groundsman before
the commencement of a match, what equipment is avail-
able for drying the pitch artificially.
Any roller may be used,
if
the umpires think desirable,
but only (except as laid down in paragraph (z) (v) ) for
the purpose of drying the pitch and making it fit for play,
and not otherwise. This would allow umpires to roll the
pitch after drying it, say with a light roller, for a minute
or two, should they consider it desirable.
(v) When the artificial drying of the pitch, under the super-
vision of the umpires, coincides with any interval during
the match, after the toss for choice of innings, the umpires,
and not the captain of the batting side, shall select the
roller to be used.
(vi) The fact that the umpires may have dried the pitch
artificially does not take the decision as regards the fitness
of
the pitch and ground for play out of the hands of the
captains, even though the umpires may have selected the
roller to be used for the drying process. Law 46, Note
5 (i), is applicable in such cases.