The excitement in cricket often peaks when a batsman is dismissed—it’s the pivotal moment that can change the entire course of the game! If you are new to the sport or simply want to solidify your understanding of the cricket out rules, this guide is for you. According to the Laws of Cricket, there are exactly 10 types of outs in cricket. Let’s break down each one into simple, actionable explanations.
What Is an Out in Cricket?
Short Definition
An ‘out’ or ‘dismissal’ in cricket occurs when the fielding team successfully employs a legal method to end a batsman’s innings. Once a batsman is declared out, they must leave the field and the next batter takes their place.
Importance of Dismissals
For the bowling and fielding side, the primary goal is to take as many wickets as possible. For the batting team, survival is key. Therefore, every single one of the cricket dismissals is a crucial, high-impact event that determines the score and the winner of the match.
Types of Outs in Cricket (Full List)
To answer the question, how many types of outs in cricket are there, the official number is ten. These are the kinds of outs a batsman may face:
- Bowled
- Caught
- Leg Before Wicket (LBW)
- Run Out
- Stumped
- Hit Wicket
- Obstructing the Field
- Timed Out
- Handled the Ball
- Hit the Ball Twice
Explanation of Each Out With Examples
Understanding the nuances of these cricket out rules is simple once you see them in action. Here is a detailed breakdown of the 10 ways a batsman can be dismissed:
1. Bowled
- Rule: The bowler delivers the ball, and it hits the stumps directly, dislodging one or both bails, regardless of whether the ball touches the bat or the batsman’s body first.
- Example: A fast bowler fires a perfect yorker. The batsman misses the defensive shot completely, and the ball shatters the stumps.
2. Caught
- Rule: The batsman hits the ball (or it touches his glove/hand while holding the bat), and a fielder (including the bowler or wicketkeeper) catches the ball before it touches the ground.
- Example: The batsman plays an aerial drive towards mid-off. The fielder leaps high and takes a brilliant catch.
3. Leg Before Wicket (LBW)
- Rule: The ball is prevented from hitting the stumps by the batsman’s body or pad, and the umpire believes the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps if it hadn’t been intercepted. This is one of the more complex types of outs in cricket with various conditions (pitching outside leg, impact in line, etc.).
- Example: A spinner bowls a straight delivery. The batsman fails to offer a shot and the ball strikes his pad directly in front of the middle stump.
4. Run Out
- Rule: The batsmen are attempting to run between the wickets, and a fielder breaks the wicket with the ball before the batsman reaches his ground (crease).
- Example: A fielder rushes to the ball, picks it up, and throws it directly at the stumps at the non-striker’s end, finding the batsman short of his crease.
5. Stumped
- Rule: The wicketkeeper takes the ball and breaks the wicket when the batsman has stepped out of the crease to play a shot and missed, and no run is being attempted.
- Example: The batsman advances to hit a slow delivery but misses. The alert wicketkeeper collects the ball and whips off the bails while the batsman is still out of his crease.
6. Hit Wicket
- Rule: The batsman, either while playing a shot or starting a run, breaks his own wicket with his bat or body.
- Example: While attempting a vigorous pull shot, the batsman’s back leg accidentally touches the stumps, dislodging a bail.
7. Obstructing the Field
- Rule: A batsman is intentionally trying to obstruct, distract, or run into a fielder who is attempting to field the ball or take a catch.
8. Timed Out
- Rule: A new batsman must be ready to face the next delivery within three minutes (or shorter in T20s) of the previous wicket falling. If they fail to do so, they can be given Timed Out.
9. Handled the Ball (Now merged under Obstructing the Field)
- Rule: The batsman intentionally touches the ball with his hand that is not holding the bat, without the permission of the fielding side.
10. Hit the Ball Twice (Now merged under Obstructing the Field)
- Rule: The batsman intentionally strikes the ball a second time with his bat or body, except to guard his wicket from being broken.
Cricket Dismissals Summary
| Dismissal Name | How It Happens | Focus of the Rule |
| Bowled | Ball hits and breaks the wicket | Direct impact on the stumps |
| Caught | Ball caught before hitting the ground | Mid-air collection by a fielder |
| LBW | Ball intercepted by the body/pad | Preventing the ball from hitting the stumps |
| Run Out | Wicket broken while batsmen are running | Batsman not in the crease while running |
| Stumped | Keeper breaks wicket while batsman is out of crease | Batsman leaves crease and misses |
Conclusion
Understanding the types of outs in cricket is the foundation of appreciating the game’s complexity and strategy. There are ten definitive kinds of outs that govern a batsman’s fate. From a simple Bowled to the rare Timed Out, these cricket out rules are what keep the game balanced, fair, and incredibly engaging.
FAQs
Which dismissal happens most often?
Statistically, Caught is the most frequent form of dismissal in cricket across all formats, followed closely by Bowled and LBW.
Can a batsman be out without hitting the ball?
Yes, absolutely. A batsman can be dismissed without hitting the ball through methods like Bowled (if they miss), LBW, Run Out, Stumped, Timed Out, and Obstructing the Field.
Is LBW the toughest rule in cricket?
LBW is often considered the most contentious and rule-heavy dismissal due to the complex factors involved, such as where the ball pitched, the point of impact, and its projected trajectory toward the stumps.
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