How strictly do I call wides?

Q: How strictly do I call wides?

Under the CGL 2025/26 playing conditions: Limited-overs matches (50, 35 and 20 overs): umpires are told to apply a very strict and consistent interpretation to stop negative bowling. Off side: a line is marked 17 inches (43.18 cm) inside each return crease, from the popping crease to the bowling crease, as a guide for off-side wides. Leg side: any delivery that passes leg side of the batter's legs in their normal stance is a wide. Above the head: a fast short ball over the head of the striker standing upright is a wide (and counts as one of the over's short-pitched balls). The Law 22.1 test also applies: a ball is wide if it passes wide of where the striker is or has stood since the ball came into play, and would also have passed wide of a normal batting position. It's wide unless it's within reach of a normal cricket stroke. Time cricket: Law 22 applies, plus a ball over the head of the striker standing upright is a wide. Use the strict limited-overs interpretation for bowlers aiming at the rough outside leg stump, and for bowlers you consider to be bowling down the leg side as a negative tactic. It's not a wide if the striker moves to make it pass wide, moves to bring it within reach, or if it touches the bat or the striker. Scoring: a wide is a 1-run penalty, plus any runs completed or awarded, all scored as wides.

Question

Accepted Answer

Under the CGL 2025/26 playing conditions:

Limited-overs matches (50, 35 and 20 overs): umpires are told to apply a very strict and consistent interpretation to stop negative bowling.

Off side: a line is marked 17 inches (43.18 cm) inside each return crease, from the popping crease to the bowling crease, as a guide for off-side wides.
Leg side: any delivery that passes leg side of the batter's legs in their normal stance is a wide.
Above the head: a fast short ball over the head of the striker standing upright is a wide (and counts as one of the over's short-pitched balls).
The Law 22.1 test also applies: a ball is wide if it passes wide of where the striker is or has stood since the ball came into play, and would also have passed wide of a normal batting position. It's wide unless it's within reach of a normal cricket stroke.

Time cricket: Law 22 applies, plus a ball over the head of the striker standing upright is a wide. Use the strict limited-overs interpretation for bowlers aiming at the rough outside leg stump, and for bowlers you consider to be bowling down the leg side as a negative tactic. It's not a wide if the striker moves to make it pass wide, moves to bring it within reach, or if it touches the bat or the striker.

Scoring: a wide is a 1-run penalty, plus any runs completed or awarded, all scored as wides.