Bowled whilst running

I recently discussed this scenario over a beer with someone (not an umpire) and I will tell you that I can only come back to the answer being "Out, Bowled!"
A legitimate ball is played by the batter into the ground, where it remains stationary just on the edge of the pitch about 8 foot outside the popping crease. The batters run a quick single, and decide to run a 2nd when they notice that neither the bowler or any fielders have bothered to go and field the ball. This incenses the bowler who sprints down beside the striker, hoping to kick the ball onto the stumps to effect a run out.

Instead, and purely accidentally, as both the striker and bowler approach the stationary ball, the striker accidentally kicks the ball onto the stumps, and it removes the bails while he is out of his ground. At no point, has anybody from the fielding side actually touched the ball since it was bowled!

The fielding side appeal!

You are the umpire! ... And everyone is awaiting your decision!

Law 30 says that the striker cannot be out Bowled if before striking the wicket the ball has been in contact with another player or an umpire. This indicates that, provided no other person has come into contact with the ball, the striker would be out Bowled if he knocked the ball on to the wicket at any time while it was in play. In theory at least, this could happen while he is trying to complete a second run. It would require a strange set of circumstances, such as the fielders spread far and wide, the bowler making a hash of trying to gather the ball and, maybe, the striker deliberately knocking the ball away from the bowler as he attempts to pick it up. If something like that did happen and the ball put his wicket down, the striker would be out Bowled and the completed run(s) would not count. Of course, this is not likely, but the Laws do cover many unlikely scenarios.

The above answer has been extracted, verbatim, from our current training material which is used on the IICUS BTEC courses.


Read more about Law 30 (Bowled) at the MCC website