What happens if my team is late or short of players?

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Accepted Answer

The Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026) say: Fewer than 11: a match is between two sides of eleven, but by agreement it may be played between sides of fewer or more than eleven, with no more than eleven fielding at any time. If during the match a side is reduced below its nominated number, the match continues as long as that is possible under the Laws or any agreements made before the toss (Law 1.1). Captain not available: a deputy acts for you. Before nomination, any person associated with the team may deputise to nominate the players. After nomination, only a nominated player can deputise, including at the toss (Law 1.3). Fielder who is late: if a fielder fails to take the field at the start of play or later, an umpire must be told the reason. The fielder cannot come on during a session without the umpire's consent, and cannot bowl until they have served Penalty time on the field (up to 90 minutes), unless the absence incurs no Penalty time under Law 24.3 (an external blow during the match, or another wholly acceptable reason in the umpires' opinion, not illness or internal injury). Late batter: after a wicket or retirement, the incoming batter must be ready to receive the ball, or for the other batter to be ready, within 3 minutes, otherwise they are out Timed out (Law 40.1). If no batter comes to the wicket, the umpires follow the Law 16.3 procedure for awarding a match. Toss: it is held not earlier than 30 minutes nor later than 15 minutes before the scheduled start (Law 13.4).