When can I suspend or refuse to start play because of ground, weather or light?

Under the Laws of Cricket (2017 Code, 4th Edition 2026), Law 2.7 to 2.8:

• Only the two umpires together decide whether conditions of ground, weather or light, or exceptional circumstances, make play dangerous or unreasonable.
• Conditions are not dangerous or unreasonable merely because they are not ideal. The fact that the grass and the ball are wet does not by itself make the ground unreasonable or dangerous.
• Conditions are dangerous if there is actual and foreseeable risk to the safety of any player or umpire. They are unreasonable if there is no safety risk but it would not be sensible for play to proceed.
• If the ground is so wet or slippery that the bowler lacks a reasonable foothold, fielders cannot move freely, or batters cannot play their strokes or run between the wickets, play is regarded as dangerous and unreasonable.
• If either umpire considers conditions dangerous or unreasonable, the umpires must immediately suspend play, or not allow play to start or recommence.
• During a suspension the umpires monitor conditions, inspect as often as appropriate without any players or officials, and call on the players to resume as soon as both agree conditions are no longer dangerous or unreasonable.

The umpires are also the sole judges of the fitness of the pitch (Law 6.2).