What is "obstructing the field"

vb. (context cricket English) describing the method of getting out by deliberately obstructing a fielder in order to prevent him from making a catch or run out, or from gathering the ball (very rare)

Obstruction of the field is one of the ten methods of dismissing a batsman in the sport of cricket. It dictates that either batsman can be given out if he wilfully attempts to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action. It is governed by Law 37 of the laws of cricket, and is a rare way for a batsman to be dismissed: in the history of cricket, there have been only one instance in Test matches and six occasions in One Day International (ODI) games. In most cases this occurs when a batsman thinks that he is going to be run out and he blocks the ball with his bat or changes his line when running between wickets to block the ball. It is legal to block the ball if, when a batsman is running between wickets, he does not deviate from his course and the ball hits him without the batsman blocking the ball on purpose. It is the sole responsibility of the batsman to not even touch the fielder while catching the ball.

The only time a batsman has been dismissed obstructing the ball in a Test match was in the South African cricket team's tour of England in 1951 when, in the fifth Test, Leonard Hutton top edged the ball and, thinking the ball would hit the stumps, attempted to hit the ball away, thereby preventing the wicket-keeper from catching the ball.