If a bowl strikes the jack and hits the marker during a play, what should the players do?

When a bowl strikes the jack and then hits the marker during play, the correct protocol is to place the jack where it is believed to have come to rest if it was not in a position that would affect the outcome of the end. This action acknowledges the integrity of the game and ensures fair play, as the goal is to ascertain where the jack would have naturally settled if it had not been impacted by the marker.

In this context, the marker’s presence is a factor in determining the natural position of the jack, but it should not lead to declaring the end dead or restarting. Players make their best judgment based on the situation, guided by the understanding that a bowl hitting the jack should allow the play to continue without unnecessary interruptions, as long as the essential rules are followed.

This approach reinforces the principle that play should be fair and that players should have a clear understanding of how to manage unusual circumstances such as this situation with the jack and the marker.