Team India get penalized for five runs during third Test against England

On the morning of Day 2 of the third Test, the Indian team were penalized with five runs due to a repeated offense of running within the danger area on the pitch. The Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin was cautioned by umpire Joel Wilson for running on the pitch. Despite seeking clarification from Wilson, the penalty was upheld, resulting in five runs for England. This penalty was imposed as India had received a warning on the previous day, with Ravindra Jadeja being the first offender for running on the pitch.

Penalty runs are awarded to one team as a consequence of various breaches of cricket laws committed by the opposing team, typically related to unfair play or player misconduct. These penalties are governed by Laws 41 and 42 of the Marylebone Cricket Club, covering unfair play and player conduct since 2017. For instance, the fielding team receives five penalty runs if the batting team attempts to steal a run, wastes time after a warning, or damages the pitch after being cautioned.

Additionally, both teams may incur a five-run penalty after being warned for practising on the pitch on match days or elsewhere on the square without umpire authorization, or on the outfield during play, except by fielders using the match ball without altering its condition or wasting time. Running on the pitch is also considered a Level 1 offence, encompassing any action that the umpire deems equivalent to mistreating the cricket ground, equipment, or implements.

Know what the rules say

The MCC rulebook provides an official guideline for such occurrences. The umpire's decision to penalize Team India with the five runs was justified. As per MCC's Law 41.14.1, falling under the Unfair Play category, “It is unfair to cause deliberate or avoidable damage to the pitch. If the striker enters the protected area in playing or playing at the ball, he/she must move from it immediately thereafter. A batter will be deemed to be causing avoidable damage if either umpire considers that his/her presence on the pitch is without reasonable cause.”

The law also specifies that a team will be issued a "first and final warning," which remains valid for the entire innings. If any team member repeats the offence during the innings, the batting side will incur a five-run penalty. Although this was Ashwin's initial violation of the innings, all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja received a warning on Thursday for a similar infraction.