The laws of cricket are important, but the way the game is played is just as important.

The Laws of Cricket contain a preamble which says:

Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws but within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.
The laws say that captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the spirit of the game as well as within the laws.

According to the laws, the umpires are sole judges of fair and unfair play.

They may intervene at any time and is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.

Cricket Australia distributed 20,000 copies of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) laws of cricket to umpires, captains and coaches throughout Australia in late 2003, largely through State Cricket Associations.

A downloadable version is available at www.lords.org/laws-and-spirit/laws-of-cricket/