Expert: Edward Fox - 10/21/2009

Question
QUESTION: sir,
situation is that a batsman try for sweep shot to a spinner. Ball was down the leg side. the batsman missed the shot and ball goes to wicket keepers glove. while the ball passing the batsman between the pad and bat the bat was touches the ground. Whether it would be declared wide as in normal situation it is wide.or it would not be declared wide as the bat was on the ground at that time and meaning it passes within the batsman.



ANSWER: G'day Ranjit, Great Question ,  very simply if it's a limited over situation then it's a wide , the bat being over the top of the ball, touching the ground or not , has no effect on the decision.  If it's a test match or multi day game , then no it would not be a wide as the batsman playing a normal cricket shot can reach the ball.
So i hope that answers your question, if i can do anything more to help , please let me know.
Edward.

Law 25: Wide Ball
1. Judging a Wide
(a) If the bowler bowls a ball, not being a No ball, the umpire shall adjudge it a Wide if, according to the definition in (b) below, in his opinion the ball passes wide of the striker where he is standing and would also have passed wide of him standing in a normal guard position.

(b) The ball will be considered as passing wide of the striker unless it is sufficiently within his reach for him to be able to hit it with his bat by means of a normal cricket stroke.

2. Delivery not a Wide
The umpire shall not adjudge a delivery as being a Wide
(a) if the striker, by moving,
either (i) causes the ball to pass wide of him, as defined in 1(b) above
or (ii) brings the ball sufficiently within his reach to be able to hit it with his bat by means of a normal cricket stroke.

(b) if the ball touches the striker's bat or person.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: then look the situation here.A batsman try to play the shot aggresively wide ball out side the up stump. but the ball could not contact with the bat and the bat   touches the ground when the ball passing the bat. means the ball goes under the bat. is it wide.

Answer
QUESTION: then look the situation here.A batsman try to play the shot aggressively wide ball out side the up(?) stump. but the ball could not contact with the bat and the bat  touches the ground when the ball passing the bat. means the ball goes under the bat. is it wide.

Answer:  Ranjit,   If the batsman can reach the ball with a normal cricket shot , with the bat going over the ball then unless the ball is outside the wide line (One Day Cricket) NO , it is not a wide.

Regards
Edward.