Obstructing the Field — Hashim Amla 2012

During the third Test between England and South Africa at Lord's, an incident occurred where a batsman appeared to deliberately change direction to obstruct a fielder from effecting a run-out. The on-field umpires had to consider an appeal for "obstructing the field."

Obstructing the field is one of cricket's rarest modes of dismissal, and umpires are often unfamiliar with the nuances of the law when it arises in real time. The law requires that the obstruction be deliberate — a batsman who accidentally collides with a fielder should not be given out.

The incident required the umpires to make a subjective judgment about intent, which is always difficult. Was the batsman deliberately trying to prevent the run-out, or was the collision accidental as both parties tried to occupy the same space?

The appeal was ultimately not upheld, with the umpires judging the obstruction to be accidental. But the incident served as a reminder of how cricket's more obscure laws can suddenly become relevant and how difficult they are to adjudicate in the heat of a Test match.