What happens if there is lightning during a match?

The CGL Lightning Policy (revised 1 September 2025) applies zero tolerance to lightning, whatever the state of the match. Where no official umpires are appointed, the captains take on the umpires' role.

Play stops immediately (or does not start or resume) as soon as the umpires:

• see a lightning strike, or
• hear thunder overhead, or
• are told by the scorers, a coach or a manager that the lightning detection app shows lightning closer than 20 km.

Players and umpires must leave the field straight away for a safe place, such as a brick or concrete building. Nobody can be expected to cover the pitch once play is suspended for lightning; covers go on only if the call was early enough to do it safely, under the umpires' direction.

Resuming play: play does not restart until 30 minutes have passed with no lightning within 20 km of the venue. Where a venue has a lightning detection system showing the storm moving away beyond 20 km, the umpires may resume when they agree it is safe. The approved app is Lightning Alarm.

Because electronic devices aren't allowed on the field during play, scorers and team managers or coaches must watch the app and warn the umpires.