Law 42

Player conduct

Players must respect umpires, opponents and the game. Umpires deal with bad behaviour in four levels, from a warning up to sending a player off.

What you need to know

Level 1 (e.g. dissent, bad language, excessive appealing): a first-and-final warning to the team, then 5 penalty runs for any repeat.
Level 2 (e.g. serious dissent, deliberate physical contact, throwing the ball dangerously at someone): 5 penalty runs straight away.
Level 3 (intimidating an umpire, threatening to assault a player): the player is removed from the field for a period — in a limited-overs match, for a set number of overs.
Level 4 (threatening or assaulting an umpire, assaulting anyone, any act of violence): the player is removed for the rest of the match.
Every offence is reported to the team and the competition's governing body.

A player swears at an umpire after a decision, for the first time in the match.

Level 1: the team gets a first and final warning.

MCC Laws of Cricket · 2017 Code, 4th Edition (2026)

Law 42 — Players' conduct

Clauses 42.1, 42.2, 42.3, 42.4, 42.5

The Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026). Summary in Inswing's own words — follow the link for the official text.