Cricket is a sport that has more rules than any other global sport. While fans are familiar with the common ones, there are a lot of other cricket rules that might not have been used or heard of. Such crazy cricket rules often confuse fans, and even players are unaware of them. Cricket is so complex and has so many rules that a new viewer might get confused. But, despite all these complications of remembering all the rules, cricket has been loved and watched all over the world. Some of the rules in the history of cricket have gone to become controversial. Such rules have come under scrutiny for their absurdness. Who can forget Ben Stokes' diving incident in the ICC 2019 ODI World Cup Final against New Zealand? In this blog, we list the top three unpopular cricket rules so that you do not have to scratch your head when you watch the beautiful game.

Top Three Unpopular Cricket Rules

1. The batter is deemed Out Obstructing the Field

Obstructing the field is one of those rules that is difficult to understand. As per Law 37, if a batter wilfully strikes the ball, obstructing the field while the ball is in play, the batter can be given out. However, fans and cricket enthusiasts still find it difficult to understand what constitutes obstructing the field and what doesn't. If a batter stops/hits the ball accidentally, it is not considered obstructing the field. Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq was once given out when he tried to prevent the ball from hitting the stumps with his bat when he was out of his crease. In this case the batter was given out because he deliberately tried to come in between the throw by preventing the ball from hitting the stumps. However, if a batter accidentally deflects the ball, he is given Not Out. Who can forget Ben Stokes' diving incident in the ICC 2019 ODI World Cup Final against New Zealand? During the final over in England's chase of 241 at Lord's, Stokes accidentally knocked the ball coming in from deep midwicket fielder and deflected it off to the third man boundary, while attempting to dive to complete his second run. Ben Stokes never changed the line of his running, nor did he look at the ball being thrown. He was just concerned about getting back on strike. Thus, it was termed an accidental obstructing. It was one of the controversial cricket rules, and Ben Stokes was awarded 6 runs due to the overthrow.

2. Timed Out - The 2-Minute Rule

The Timed Out rule is pretty simple, but not many fans and cricket followers have an idea about that. As per Law 40 of the laws of cricket, an incoming batter should be at the crease and ready to play within 2 minutes of the previous batter getting out. If the batter fails to make it within 2 minutes, then the batter can be given out 'Timed Out'. Usually, a batter expected to go in next is already padded up and ready to bat even before a wicket has fallen. Recently, in the ICC Men's ODI Cricket World Cup 2023, Sri Lankan allrounder Angelo Mathews was the trending cricket news after a controversial 'timed out' dismissal in their World Cup match against Bangladesh. Mathews was the first cricket player to get 'timed out' in the 146-year history of international cricket. Mathews, without informing the on-field match officials, had signalled his dugout to get a spare helmet when his chin strap came off; Shakib, on being made aware of Timed Out dismissal by one of his teammates, appealed which led to a controversial decision by the on-field umpire.

3. The Mankad rule

The Mankad rule is one of the most infamous rules in the history of cricket. The rule suggests that if a non-striker backs up too far out of his crease while the bowler is about to bowl, the bowler has the right to run that batter out before delivering the ball. The name of the dismissal has been kept as mankading, based on former Indian cricketer Vinoo Mankad. He was the first cricketer to attempt to run a batter out in the non-strike end in 1947-48 against Australia. There have been only eight such instances in international cricket after Mankad did it. Despite the rule's existence, the debate around the spirit of the game is brought up whenever a bowler attempts it. The new law - 38.3. 1, which came into force with immediate effect, said At any time from the moment the ball comes into play until the instant when the bowler would normally have been expected to release the ball, the non-striker is liable to be run out if the batter is out of the crease. This incident happened even in the most followed Indian Premier League. Kings XI Punjab captain Ravichandran Ashwin ran out Rajasthan Royals' Jos Buttler during the IPL 2019 season. Buttler was out of his crease at the non-striker’s end before Ashwin had delivered the ball. The Indian off-spinner was quick to take the bails off.