Overthrows and Misfields Explained: The Definitions in the 2026 Laws

Under the 2026 edition of the Laws of Cricket, an overthrow is a fielder’s attempt to hit the stumps to prevent runs or to complete a run out, and anything else that goes wrong when a fielder stops or returns the ball is a misfield. The fourth edition of the 2017 Code took effect on 1 October 2026 and defines both terms for the first time.

What an overthrow is

An overthrow happens when a fielder throws the ball at the stumps, trying to stop the batters running or to run one out, and the throw is not stopped, so it goes past the stumps and the fielders behind them. Runs scored from such a throw are the overthrows.

What a misfield is

A misfield is an ordinary fumble: the fielder fails to gather the ball cleanly, lets it through, or makes a poor attempt to stop it or to throw it somewhere other than at the stumps. A loose return near the boundary, for example, is treated as a misfield and not an overthrow.

Why the difference matters

A clear definition gives umpires and scorers one test to apply: was the fielder trying to hit the stumps to stop runs or complete a run out? If so, it is an overthrow; if not, it is a misfield.

A worked example

A fielder at deep midwicket picks up the ball and hurls it at the striker’s end to catch a batter short. The throw misses everything and runs away to the boundary. That is an overthrow, because the fielder was trying to hit the stumps. In another case, a fielder at long-on lets a ball slip under his hand and it rolls to the rope. That is a misfield, because no attempt on the stumps was being made.

Related changes

The same edition also changes other rules around fielding. Some changes have already been adopted by the ICC and other governing bodies as playing conditions.