Articles

LAW

MEANING

The Players

(Law 1)

The parties, their witnesses, experts, advocates and legal representatives (all socially distanced).

The Umpires

(Law 2)

The judges (like the players, all socially distanced).

The Scorers

(Law 3)

The BT MeetMe organisers and court staff who determine if, when and how any player is to be re-admitted to the ground when summarily ejected during a remote hearing.  (See also Law 41 (unfair play) and Law 42 (players’ conduct).)

The Ball

(Law 4)

The slew of regulations, practice directions and guidance borne out of the pandemic.

The Bat

(Law 5)

The tools and legal ingenuity deployed by the players in their attempts to:

1. Keep a handle on the frequent and varied deliveries of the ball (all players);
2. Dispatch the ball to best advantage (tenants);
3. Stop, deflect or avoid the ball so as to limit its impact (landlords).

The Pitch

(Law 6)

The:

1. Study;
2. Kitchen;
3. Living room;
4. Dining room;
5. Bedroom;
6. Garden room,

and any other areas reserved (or appropriated by) the players for use during remote hearings.

The Creases

(Law 7)

1. The ridges in players’ un-ironed clothing (intended to be out of camera view in a remote hearing).
2. The furrowed brows of players who lose Skype connection midway through such a hearing.

The Wickets

(Law 8)

The targets at which the ball is directed, including health protection, business survival and the protection of tenants.

Preparation and Maintenance of the Playing Area

Law 9)

1. Setting up no fewer than 4 electronic devices for: (i) streaming the remote hearing; (ii) the e-bundle; (iii) Word/email/backup e-bundle; (iv) WhatsApp instructions.
2. Arranging suitable lighting.
3. Deciding what, if any, footwear to don for the match.
4. Ensuring a sufficient supply of water is to hand – to be kept separate from the devices in (1).

Covering the Pitch

(Law 10)

1. Obscuring all personal and potentially distracting backdrops (and those with unapproved logos) for the duration of remote hearings.
2. Muting the sound on a telephone hearing while taking instructions in a separate call.

Intervals

(Law 11)

The breaks between the start and close of play for tired eyes, weary minds, refreshment, comfort and general sanity, as decreed by the umpires from time to time.

Start of Play;

Cessation of Play

(Law 12)

1. The window to be kept clear for the possible receipt of a BT MeetMe call between 10 am and 1pm (day matches) or (b) 2pm and 4.30pm (day-night matches).
2. The variable cut-off time determined by the umpires in their absolute discretion.

Innings

(Law 13)

The opportunities (if any) afforded by the umpires to advocates to present their cases.  An innings is considered to be completed when a party’s submissions are all out.

The Follow-On

(Law 14)

The delivery of judgment by the umpires without one party having commenced its innings.

Declaration and Forfeiture

(Law 15)

Orders which may be made by the umpires, the latter with or without relief.