There are 42 Laws in the Laws of Cricket. They form the sport’s official rule code, covering everything from players, equipment and pitch preparation to scoring, dismissals, unfair play and player conduct.
The code is maintained by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), whose custodianship began in 1788. Earlier written rules existed: the earliest known code was drafted in 1744, while formal match agreements appeared in the 18th century. The modern code has been revised several times, with the 2017 Code replacing the 2000 edition.
The Laws are numbered rather than simply grouped by topic. Law 17 covers the over, Laws 32–40 cover methods of dismissal, Law 41 concerns unfair play, and Law 42 covers players’ conduct. The five appendices add technical definitions and equipment specifications, but they are not additional numbered Laws.
A common mix-up is confusing the Laws with competition playing conditions. The International Cricket Council and domestic boards can add format-specific conditions, but the underlying MCC code still contains 42 Laws.