A batter can be dismissed in several ways, and the differences are easier to understand when each dismissal is linked to the action that breaks the wicket or prevents the batter from remaining in the innings. Common methods include bowled, caught, leg before wicket, run out, stumped and hit wicket. The Laws of Cricket contain detailed exceptions, so this guide explains the basic principles rather than replacing the official Laws.
Table of Contents- Bowled
- Caught
- Leg Before Wicket
- Run Out
- Stumped
- Hit Wicket and Other Dismissals
- Why Shortcuts Can Cause Rule Errors
- How to Explain a Dismissal in a Match Report
Bowled
A batter is out Bowled when a fairly delivered ball breaks the striker's wicket, subject to the conditions in the Law. The delivery must not be a No ball. Bowled can take precedence over another possible dismissal when the wicket is fairly broken in the manner described by the Law. The official MCC wording should be used when a case involves an unusual sequence.
Caught
A caught dismissal generally occurs when a fielder legally catches the ball after it has touched the striker's bat, or in circumstances covered by the Laws. The catch must satisfy the relevant requirements for control and the ball must not have become dead under an applicable provision. Because the detailed catching rules include several conditions, unusual boundary and grounding situations need the official Laws.
Leg Before Wicket
LBW is one of the most discussed dismissals because several conditions must be satisfied. The ball's pitching, point of impact, relationship to the wicket and whether the batter made a qualifying contact with the ball are all relevant. The exact test is set out in Law 36, so a short rule of thumb should not be used to judge every LBW decision.
Run Out
A batter can be Run out when, while the ball is in play, the batter is out of their ground and the wicket is fairly broken by a fielder, subject to the exceptions in the Law. A run does not always have to be actively attempted for a run-out to occur under the current wording. The exact circumstances and relevant exceptions matter.
Stumped
Stumping is a specific dismissal involving the wicketkeeper putting down the striker's wicket while the striker is out of the ground, with the conditions in Law 39 satisfied. A key distinction from a run out is that the striker must not have attempted a run in the circumstances specified by the Law. A stumping can occur from a Wide when the other conditions are met.
Hit Wicket and Other Dismissals
Hit wicket occurs when the striker breaks their own wicket in the circumstances described by the Law. Other dismissal methods include hit the ball twice and obstructing the field, while timed out applies in specific circumstances after a wicket falls. These methods are less common but remain part of the Laws and should not be described using informal rules alone.
Why Shortcuts Can Cause Rule Errors
Cricket dismissal rules contain exceptions, precedence rules and format-specific playing conditions. A sentence such as 'the ball hit the stumps, so the batter is out' can be incomplete because the Laws distinguish between fair and No-ball deliveries and other circumstances. Introductory explanations should therefore describe the basic case while pointing readers to the current Laws for edge cases.
How to Explain a Dismissal in a Match Report
A match report does not need to reproduce the full Law. It should identify the dismissal accurately, describe the decisive action in plain language and avoid adding a rule claim that the scorecard does not support. If an unusual dismissal is disputed, the report should rely on the official decision and the applicable Law rather than guessing from a video clip.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most basic meaning of Bowled?
The striker is out when a fairly delivered ball breaks the wicket, subject to the conditions in the Bowled Law.
What is the difference between stumped and run out?
Stumping is a specific wicketkeeper dismissal with conditions including the striker being out of the ground and not attempting a run in the relevant circumstances. Run out has a broader set of conditions involving a fielder fairly breaking the wicket.
Where can I check the exact cricket dismissal rules?
The current Laws of Cricket published by MCC are the authoritative reference for detailed dismissal conditions and exceptions.