The concept of a "dead ball" is a fundamental principle in the Laws of Cricket, serving to define the end of a period of play and ensure fairness. According to Law 20, a ball becomes "dead" when the bowler's end umpire is satisfied that the fielding side and both batters have ceased to regard it as being in play. This can happen in numerous ways, both automatically and at the umpire's discretion. Automatic dead ball scenarios include a batter being dismissed, a boundary being scored, or the ball lodging in a player's clothing or a fielding helmet. The umpire will also call and signal "dead ball" for reasons of safety, such as a serious injury to a player, or when the batter is not ready for the delivery. Once a ball is declared dead, no runs can be scored, no wickets can fall, and any subsequent actions are nullified. The ball remains dead until the bowler begins their run-up for the next delivery, and it is a crucial rule that prevents any form of "double play" and ensures a clear pause between each ball.
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