Leg-Side Wides

In an attempt to standardise the awarding of leg-side wides, the Cornwall Cricket Umpires Association (CCUA), in consultation with the Cornwall Cricket League (CCL), have decided to introduce a standard definition of what constitutes a leg-side wide.  This definition is based on the competition rules played in the MCCA knockout cup, Cockspur cup and CCL Centenary Sunday knockout cup competitions, and is in response to the requests of many of the club captains.

If the ball passes, without touching any part of the striker’s person or bat, on the leg side of the wicket, and on the leg side of where the batsman would be standing in his normal guard position, then it will be called and signalled wide.

This interpretation is not based on a set linear measurement, and therefore does not penalise batsmen of large or small stature, and does not, in any way, prevent accurate bowlers from adopting a strategy of bowling at, or just outside of, the leg stump.

This interpretation MUST be applied by all CCUA panel umpires throughout the remainder of this season, in both Premier League and CCL Division 1 cricket matches. 

It will have the effect of ensuring that umpires who currently umpire strictly to the "Laws of Cricket", and those who call anything down the leg-side a wide, adopt a consistent and fair interpretation.

Bear in mind that a striker cannot make a fair ball into a wide by moving away from it, but can prevent a ball being called wide by moving towards it.  If the striker moves his feet towards the off side of the wicket, away from the line of the ball, it cannot make a ball which might have hit his pads into a wide!

The application of this interpretation will be reviewed at the post-season meeting between the Premier/ Division 1 clubs and the CCL, and its continued use next season will be decided at that meeting.

Examples

• If a batsman takes guard on middle stump, it is likely that his legs will be 9-12” outside leg stump.  
  Therefore, a ball will only be called wide if it passes more than 9-12” outside leg stump.
   

• If a batsman takes guard on leg stump, it is likely that his legs will be 18-20” inches outside leg  
  stump.  Therefore, a ball will only be called wide if it passes more than 18-20” outside leg stump.