Under what condition is the jack declared dead?

The jack is declared dead when it passes above the face of the bank because this signifies that it has exited the area of play and cannot be retrieved for subsequent play. In bowls, the boundaries are defined such that any bowl or jack that crosses these limits is considered out of play. When the jack is above the bank, it has essentially left the playing surface, rendering it unplayable and resulting in its death according to the rules. This ensures the game can proceed without ambiguity regarding the position of the jack.

In contrast, touching the jack by a player or it being moved by a bowl does not necessarily mean it is dead; rather, these actions may lead to other considerations in gameplay. While a jack that falls into the ditch might also lead to it being declared dead, it is conditionally dependent on specific scenarios outlined in the rules, such as whether it was struck by a bowl or went there unintentionally.