Certainly not unfair: MCC on Mayank Agarwal fielding on his knees

Mayank Agarwal. Pic/AFP

Mayank Agarwal's decision to field on his knees in the gully became one of the talking points of the first Test between India and New Zealand that ended in a draw on Monday. The Indian opener went down on his knees to negate the lack of bounce on the surface.

However, Agarwal was within the rules to field on his knees, said Jonny Singer, the Laws of Cricket Advisor at the MCC, the custodians of the game.

"There is nothing in the laws to prevent a fielder fielding on his/her knees. In fact, this has become relatively common in recent years. Adopting a position on the knees, and maintaining it, is certainly not unfair," Singer said from London.

"If the fielder gets up or kneels down after the ball has come into play, then that might be considered to be a breach of Law 28.6.1. That would be for the umpire to decide," he added.

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