Hit Wicket and Handled the Ball: Rare Dismissals
How hit wicket and handled the ball work under the Laws of cricket, when a batter can be given out, and how the rules changed in recent years.
Some dismissals in cricket occur so seldom that they surprise even experienced followers. Hit wicket and handled the ball are two of these. Both involve the batter’s own actions rather than the bowler’s skill, and both are rooted in simple principles: the wicket must be broken by the batter only in specific ways, and the ball must be treated as live property of the fielding side.
What is hit wicket?
A batter is out hit wicket under Law 35 if their wicket is broken, with the bat or any part of the body, clothing or equipment, after the bowler has entered their delivery stride and while the batter is playing at the ball, or setting off for a run, or defending the wicket. In plain terms, a batter who knocks the bails off while attempting a stroke or taking a first run is out.
Typical examples include:
- A batter steps back to play a cut and the back foot or the heel clips the stumps
- The bat follows through after a shot and removes a bail
- A helmet, cap or piece of kit falls onto the wicket while the batter is playing the ball
- A batter slips while setting off for a run and brushes the stumps with a pad
If the bails are dislodged for another reason, such as the wind, or if the batter has already completed the shot and is not attempting a run, the dismissal does not count. The Laws also say that no batter is out hit wicket if the act of breaking the wicket takes place while the batter is avoiding a throw or when the wicket is broken in such a way that the bowler has not yet entered their delivery stride.
Why it still happens
Batters take guard close to the stumps and often play back to short-pitched deliveries, which leaves little room for error. Fast bowlers who angle the ball in towards the body can force batters to move across and back, and a small misjudgement can be enough to dislodge a bail. Even top-level batters have been dismissed in this way, which shows that it is not simply a matter of poor technique.
Handled the ball
Handled the ball was traditionally a separate mode of dismissal. A batter could be given out if they deliberately touched the ball with a hand not holding the bat, without the consent of the opposition. The rule existed to stop batters protecting their wicket by using their hands, for example by pushing a ball away from the stumps.
In the 2017 revision of the Laws, handled the ball was folded into the Law on obstructing the field. Under the current wording, a batter who touches the ball with a hand or glove not in contact with the bat, with no permission from the fielding side, can be given out obstructing the field. The change reflects the view that both actions are forms of interference with the fielding side’s opportunity to dismiss the batter, and it simplified the list of ways to be out.
Exceptions and safety
There are sensible exceptions. A batter may touch the ball to protect themselves from injury if it is dangerous, and they may pick up or push the ball away if the fielding side agrees. If a ball lodges in a batter’s clothing or equipment, the umpire may call dead ball rather than punish them. The Laws are meant to catch deliberate acts, not accidents or reflex reactions.
How umpires decide
As with other unusual dismissals, umpires usually need an appeal. They consider whether the act was deliberate, whether the ball was live and whether the batter had permission from the fielding side. In high-level matches, replays can help to establish whether the stumps were broken by the batter and at which point in the delivery. If there is doubt, the umpires may consult each other or the third umpire.
The bottom line
Hit wicket is a reminder that a batter must be careful not only of the ball but also of their own movements around the stumps. Handled the ball is no longer a separate entry in the Laws, but the principle that a batter may not use their hands to interfere with a live ball remains. Both are uncommon, yet knowing how they work makes it easier to understand the umpires’ decisions when they do occur.
Frequently asked questions
What does hit wicket mean?
A batter is out hit wicket if they break their own wicket with the bat, body, clothing or equipment after the bowler has entered the delivery stride, while playing a shot or setting off for a run.
Is handled the ball still a dismissal?
Not as a separate mode. Since the 2017 Laws, touching the ball with a hand not holding the bat without the fielding side’s consent is treated as obstructing the field.
Can a batter touch the ball to avoid injury?
Yes. The Laws allow a batter to protect themselves from injury, and umpires distinguish between deliberate interference and a reflex action.