Cricket rules, explained simply
Short, clear guides to the rules that confuse people most. Start with how cricket works if you are new.
How Cricket Works
The basics of cricket in five minutes: teams, overs, innings, runs and how a match is won.
Test, ODI and T20 Formats
The differences between Test cricket, One Day Internationals and T20 explained.
Ways to Get Out
Every way a batter can be dismissed, from bowled to timed out.
The LBW Rule
Leg before wicket explained with the three questions an umpire asks.
DRS Explained
How the Decision Review System works, including ball tracking and umpire's call.
No-Ball and Free Hit
What makes a no-ball, what it costs, and how the free hit works.
The Wide Ball
When the umpire calls a wide, and what happens next.
Powerplay Rules
Fielding restrictions in ODIs and T20s, over by over.
Fielding Positions
A labelled map of every common fielding position.
The DLS Method
How rain-affected targets are set with the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.
Cricket Glossary
Plain-English meanings of common cricket words and phrases.
Cricket pitch, ball and bat sizes
Pitch length, crease markings, stumps, ball weight and bat limits.
Types of bowling in cricket
Fast, swing, seam and spin bowling, plus the variations.
Types of cricket shots explained
Drives, cuts, pulls, sweeps and the modern T20 shots.
Extras in cricket
Byes, leg byes, overthrows and five-run penalties.
The follow-on rule in Test cricket
When a Test team is made to bat again straight away.
Super Over rules explained
How tied limited-overs matches are decided.
Retired hurt, retired out and substitutes
Retired hurt vs retired out, and concussion substitutes.
Where to start
Quick answers
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| How many balls in an over? | Six legal deliveries. More |
| Can you be out LBW if the ball pitches outside leg? | No, never. More |
| How many runs is a no-ball? | One, plus anything scored off it. More |
| Is there a free hit after a wide? | No, only after a no-ball. More |
| Do you lose a review on umpire's call? | No, the team keeps it. More |
| How many fielders outside the circle in the T20 powerplay? | Two. More |
| How many ways can a batter be out? | Nine. More |
Where the rules come from
The Laws of Cricket are written by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in London. The International Cricket Council (ICC) adds playing conditions for international matches, such as review numbers and powerplays. Leagues like the IPL add their own conditions on top. Our guides follow the Laws and the main international playing conditions, and point out where competitions differ.