I WATCHED with interest when, in both the first and second Test matches between England and Pakistan, one of the Pakistani bowlers began running on the protected area and was duly warned for it.

I have often thought, judging by the footmarks on the pitch, some bowlers must be getting very close to the protected area.

In one case it got to the second warning stage, after which if the bowler had done it again the umpire would have asked the captain to remove him from the attack immediately and he would not be able to bowl again in that innings.

The over, if not finished, would have to be completed by another bowler who had not bowled the previous over nor will bowl the next from the other end.

So what is the protected area? Listening to the commentators they keep referring to it as the 'danger area'.

In the last update of the laws, the name was changed to the protected area.

The area to be protected is a section one foot either side of the centre stump starting five feet in front of the popping crease.

Most bowlers are able to avoid this area but you do get some who don’t, some deliberately to see how much an umpire will allow him to get away with.

Several times I have got to a first warning and never had to speak to the bowler again. It just goes to show they can do it if reminded.

Most local umpires will let the bowlers know they are concerned with where they are running by going down the pitch to have a look at the footmarks and give a couple of friendly warnings before following the three-step process of caution, final warning and suspension.

It’s amazing, sometimes, the bowler’s reaction when told he is running on the protected area.

“I’m only in soft-soled shoes, they won’t make a mark,” they often say.

Yes they will if he bowls quite a few overs.

“I’m ok as it’s in line with the leg stump," is another reply to which the answer is: “No, your feet have to be outside the one-foot line marked on the pitch.

The response: “Well, I never been told before".

These comments were from very experienced cricketers.

A right-arm bowler, who usually bowls over the wicket but suddenly decides to bowl round it to a left-hander, often forgets to run off and invariably ends up on the protected area and often in front of the umpire blocking his view.

I think I have only ever had to enforce the third element of the process twice in 40 years, but I've got to the second warning a few times.