Ways a Batter Can Be Out in Cricket: Every Dismissal Explained
A plain-English guide to the ways a batter can be dismissed in cricket, from bowled, caught and lbw to run out, stumped, timed out and obstructing.
A cricket innings ends when the batting side has lost all but one of its batters, so knowing how a batter can be dismissed is basic to following the game. The Laws of Cricket, maintained by the Marylebone Cricket Club, list the modes of dismissal. Some are seen in nearly every match, others only once in a blue moon.
Bowled
A batter is bowled when the delivery hits the stumps and dislodges at least one bail. It does not matter whether the ball first touches the bat, pad or glove on the way. If the ball deflects off the batter’s body or equipment and hits the stumps, the dismissal still counts as bowled.
Caught
A batter is caught when a fielder, including the wicketkeeper, takes the ball cleanly after it has come off the bat or the glove holding the bat and before it touches the ground. The fielder must have full control of the catch and must not touch the boundary while carrying the ball. A catch off the pad or the body does not count.
Leg before wicket
The lbw law is the one most often debated. In simple terms, a batter can be out if the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps but is stopped by the batter’s body, usually the pad. The ball must not pitch outside leg stump, and if the batter plays a shot, the impact must be in line with the stumps. Where no shot is offered, an impact outside the off stump can still lead to a dismissal. Ball-tracking technology now helps umpires and review systems judge these decisions.
Run out
A batter is run out when a fielder breaks the wicket with the ball while the batter is out of their ground, that is, short of the crease. This can happen while running between the wickets or after a mix-up with a partner. Since the Laws were revised in 2022, a bowler removing the bails at the non-striker’s end before delivery is also treated as a run out rather than a separate form of dismissal.
Stumped
A batter is stumped when the wicketkeeper breaks the wicket with the ball while the batter has left the crease and is not attempting a run. It is most often seen against spin bowlers, when a batter steps out to attack and misses the ball.
Hit wicket
A batter is out hit wicket if the bat, body or equipment dislodges the bails while the bowler is delivering or while the batter is setting off for a run. It can happen on the back foot against a fast bowler, or in a bold attempt to play a shot.
Hit the ball twice
A batter can be out for deliberately hitting the ball a second time with the bat, except to protect the wicket from a second hit or with the consent of the opposition. This is rare because batters can legitimately play a defensive shot to stop the ball hitting the stumps.
Obstructing the field
A batter is out if they deliberately obstruct a fielder by word or action. Under the Laws as revised in 2017, the older dismissal known as handled the ball was folded into this category, so deliberately touching the ball with a hand not holding the bat, without the fielding side’s consent, can lead to a dismissal for obstructing the field.
Timed out
A new batter must be ready to face the ball, or for the other batter to be ready, within a set time of the previous wicket falling. If they are not, the incoming batter can be given out timed out. The 2023 World Cup saw the first such dismissal in men’s international cricket, when Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews was given out against Bangladesh.
Retired out
A batter who retires without the opposition captain’s consent and does not return can be recorded as retired out. This is different from retiring hurt, which is not a dismissal.
No-balls and free hits
A batter cannot be out bowled, caught, stumped, lbw or hit wicket from a no-ball. The ways of being out from a no-ball are limited to run out, hit the ball twice and obstructing the field. The same restriction applies to a free hit in white-ball cricket.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most common way to be out in cricket?
Being caught is usually the most common dismissal, followed by bowled, lbw and run out.
Can a batter be out off a no-ball?
Only in limited ways. A batter can be run out, out for hitting the ball twice or for obstructing the field, but not bowled, caught, stumped, lbw or hit wicket.
What does timed out mean?
It means the incoming batter was not ready to face a ball within the time allowed after the previous wicket fell. The fielding side can appeal for it.