Biryani Pillow
U19 Vice-Captain
Sorry but a pocket is part of clothing - that's fair.I actually think the rule should apply to more things - Jonathan Trott once took a catch in his trouser pocket, which seems way more like an unfair catch than the ball clipping the helmet.
I recall (I think) Trescothick lamping one in Sri Lanka years ago. The fielder at short leg took evasive action but the ball lodged in the loose material in his shirt under his armpit. Very unlucky but out (and, of course, nobody would have raised an issue as it was an England batsman - if they had been fielding there would have been calls to change the Law).
The ball remains live - it becomes like a no ball but without the one run penalty.Ball is ruled dead if it touches a fielder's helmet while he's wearing it.
It s in there somewhere - possibly under equipment. It;s a pretty new update to prevent close fielders wearing external shin pads. The Laws are being revised to make them easier to read and interpret - as is Tom Smith's (the umpires guide book) which, atm s too often contradictory and confusing.Can I grab a source for the bolded? The law I quoted above only mentions protective helmets, or are you using 'external protective equipment' as a synonym for protective helmet given fielders can't actually wear any further external protective equipment?
About where it is now I'd say.well where do you draw the line
It's a Law and has been in a great many years. It was certainly in the 2000 revision but probably got added as soon as fielders helmets became a regular thing.I can see the logic behind the rule, just never knew about it. How long has it been a rule?