Explained: What will happen to County batter who carried mobile phone to pitch that fell out of his pocket mid-run

First Post

05-05-2025

Lancashire's Tom Bailey dropped his mobile phone mid-run during a County Championship match, raising questions about the rules on carrying electronic devices in cricket. Here's what the laws say. read more
Cricket fans witnessed a bizarre moment during a County Championship match on Saturday, 3 May, when Lancashire batter Tom Bailey accidentally dropped his mobile phone while running between the wickets. The unusual incident took place at Old Trafford, Manchester, during Lancashire's Division Two match against Gloucestershire.
The moment happened on Day 2 of the match. Bailey had just come out to bat after the fall of the eighth wicket. On his second delivery, he pushed the ball into the leg side and went for a couple of runs. But as he reached the non-striker's end and turned to complete the second run, the commentators noticed something fall out of his pocket.
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Replays confirmed that it was indeed a mobile phone. Gloucestershire's Ajeet Singh Dale was even seen jokingly picking it up and running off with it. The commentators were just as stunned, saying, 'No way, I've never seen that before!'
What are the laws on carrying mobile phones to a cricket pitch?
According to clause 41.5 of the County Championship 2025 Playing Conditions, players are not allowed to use any kind of electronic communication devices while on the field of play, unless it's player movement technology (like GPS tracking vests/bands used for fitness and field positioning).
The law states: 'With the exception of player movement technology, the use of electronic communication devices and equipment of any kind which enables communication between on-field players and anyone not on the field of play shall not be permitted during the scheduled or re-scheduled hours of play.'
In Tom Bailey's case, while he clearly had a phone on him, it wasn't being used at the time. As of now, there has been no official action or penalty announced against Bailey, but the situation has sparked debate over how seriously such rules should be enforced.
Not the first time a phone has caused chaos on cricket field
Interestingly, this isn't the first time phones have caused chaos in cricket. Famous umpire Dickie Bird once revealed that Allan Lamb accidentally brought a phone onto the field and gave it to Bird and asked him to answer it if it rang. In another case in 2014, a Lancashire League match was interrupted when 12 phones were found stolen from players' jackets.