You the umpire

[Mongoose]

If the ball comes to a position of rest within the fielder's clothing, does that mean it isn't a fair catch? e.g. it 'rests' in his pocket. He could walk around and it would stay there. Whereas if it gets lodged in e.g. his shirt, it can still end up falling to the ground. So Clarke has to dig that cherry out of his pocket and get it back in play!

[Lemming]

Originally Posted by Mongoose

If the ball comes to a position of rest within the fielder's clothing, does that mean it isn't a fair catch? e.g. it 'rests' in his pocket. He could walk around and it would stay there. Whereas if it gets lodged in e.g. his shirt, it can still end up falling to the ground. So Clarke has to dig that cherry out of his pocket and get it back in play!

Nope. A fair catch may be taken if the ball becomes lodged in any part of the fielder's clothing, that includes a pocket! So long as it is not intentional (i.e. you can't catch the ball in a hat or get your shirt to act as a fireman's blanket). Clarke is looking at pigeons, so this is not intentional!

[Lemming]

I'm now going to post the whole solution.

Before McGrath's ball is bowled...

Originally Posted by Lemming

...England need another 100 runs to win the series, they are 213-5...

After the ball is bowled, England are 221-5! Eight runs have been added to the total and no batsman is out!

Originally Posted by Lemming

Glenn McGrath enters his delivery stride to bowl to Michael Vaughan, he's up to the wicket and bowls, his back foot is well inside the return crease (not touching) and his front foot is comfortably behind the popping crease.

All is well here, his feet are fine as far as a No-ball goes!

Originally Posted by Lemming

As he turns his arm over to bowl, the ball - still in his hand - clips the bails (which subsequently fall to the floor) at the bowler's end, Geraint Jones is out of his ground, the fielding team appeal...[For a Run Out]

For reasons stated before, Jones is not out Run Out!

Originally Posted by Lemming

...Hayden is sunbathing at leg slip... Michael Clarke is in a daydream, he watched from his position at backward square leg...Jason Gillespie who has watched the action, astonished at what he is seeing, from fine-leg...

The square leg umpire notices three members of the fielding team behind the popping crease on the on side, he calls and signals "No-ball", 1 run to the extras of the batting total! No catch will count from this point onwards!

Originally Posted by Lemming

...The ball pitches 1/4 of the way down the pitch and then again 3/4 of the way down the pitch - yet having not touched Vaughan or his bat - before reaching Vaughan...

This is fine, the ball can pitch twice before reaching the popping crease, without touching the batsman or his bat, but no more than twice!

Originally Posted by Lemming

...Vaughan swivels on his back foot and pulls the ball hard behind square on the leg-side. Hayden is sunbathing at leg slip, the ball hits him full on the shin, he is protected well by shin-guards under his trousers though. The ball amazingly balloons up and hits the square-leg umpire full in the forehead and continues to travel upwards...

It is fine to hit the ball of shin-guards, a fair catch could still be taken. It is also OK for a fair catch to be taken after the ball has struck an umpire!

Originally Posted by Lemming

... Michael Clarkes is in a daydream, he watched from his position at backward square leg as McGrath approached the crease to bowl at Vaughan, but was then distracted by two pigeons flying overhead, he watches them with amazement. The ball has hit the umpire and continued, without bouncing, to fall into Clarke's trouser pocket and come to rest. During the time the ball has been in the air the batsmen have attempted to run and crossed before the ball landed in Clarke's pocket. The fielding team appeal...

It is fine to catch a ball if it accidentally gets caught up in clothing!

Originally Posted by Lemming

... After seeing the ball land in Clarke's pocket, Vaughan makes good his ground at the bowler's end but Geraint Jones slips 5 yards short. Clarke, not sure of any rules, takes the ball out of his pocket and attempts a run-out at the end Jones is running to. Jones focuses on getting into his ground and scampers, with some determination, towards the keeper's end crease. The ball, having been thrown by Clarke comes in, and is about to hit the wickets before it hits Jones' bat - which he is sliding in and, for the record, is in good ground when the ball strikes - before carrying on to Damian Martyn at cover. The fielding team appeal...

1 run is awarded to Vaughan. The appeal is for obstructing the field. Jones did not intentionally do this and so he should not be given out, the game continues!

Originally Posted by Lemming

...The batsmen attempt another run as the ball is going to Martyn at cover. They complete their ground good. Vaughan is at the keeper's end, his bat just an inch or too in good ground and his feet out of his ground. Martyn slings the ball at Vaughan's stumps to attempt a run-out, Vaughan is slightly in the way and, fearful of being hit, sways slightly out of the way bringing his bat level with the crease line, his body is still out of the crease. The wicket is hit and the fielding team appeal...

Vaughan had made good his ground! When Martyn threw the ball at the stumps, Vaughan left his ground to avoid injury. Because he had made his ground already he is OK to do this! 1 runs is awarded to Vaughan!

Originally Posted by Lemming

... Vaughan gets back into his crease. The ball, after hitting the wicket at Vaughan's end, continues down towards Jason Gillespie who has watched the action, astonished at what he is seeing, from fine-leg. He takes a few side-steps before diving to his left and grabbing the ball 3 yards inside the rope, his in not touching the boundary. Vaughan and Jones have attempted another run and are 3/4 of the way through it. Gillespie, having enough of this commotion, flings the ball over the boundary rope, Vaughan and Jones then make good their ground!

Gillespie intentionally throws the ball to the boundary, thus the boundary counts as overthrows and the single taken by the batsman stands! 1 run is awarded to Vaughan, then four runs for the boundary.

After the ball eight runs were added to England's total, seven of them to Vaughan!

If you think I have anything wrong, please tell me!

[Aussie-Yank]

Nicely Done, well hidden - legside noball rule.

[Mongoose]

The batsman hits the ball and it lodges straight in the top of his pad, coming to a rest. He turns round to face the wicketkeeper. After exchanging glances, the keeper picks the ball out of the batsman's pad. The batsman says 'I'm out' and walks off.

YOU BE THE UMPIRE!

[Occasional Fan]

The batsman is correct. He's in a bit of trouble if this happens as there is not a lot he can do in his defence. He can dislodge the ball by hand as long as the hand is connected to the bat, but that is not instinctive. More likely he would try to move it with his free hand and that would be out handled the ball. Ever seen it happen?

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Occasional Fan

The batsman is correct. He's in a bit of trouble if this happens as there is not a lot he can do in his defence. He can dislodge the ball by hand as long as the hand is connected to the bat, but that is not instinctive. More likely he would try to move it with his free hand and that would be out handled the ball. Ever seen it happen?

Never seen it happen, because most umpires know the rule better than you OF - you're incorrect!

[Occasional Fan]

Ah-ha! Back to school for me then!

[Aussie-Yank]

Ball becomes a dead ball. The batsman would be called back by the umpire as the fielding side would not be able to run out the batsman.

[Mongoose]

Originally Posted by Aussie-Yank

Ball becomes a dead ball. The batsman would be called back by the umpire as the fielding side would not be able to run out the batsman.

Well done. It becomes dead when lodged between the batsman's clothing or equipment. Sorry about the dealy getting back to you, it's now your turn.