Extras in cricket: byes, leg byes and overthrows
Extras are runs the batting side gets that are not scored off the bat. There are five types. Some count against the bowler, and some count against the fielding side as a whole.
The five types of extras
Who is charged with extras?
| Extra | Counts against the bowler? | Counts as a ball faced? |
|---|---|---|
| Wide | Yes | No |
| No-ball | Yes | Yes |
| Bye | No | Yes |
| Leg bye | No | Yes |
| Penalty runs | No | Not applicable |
Byes
A bye happens when the ball passes the batter without touching bat or body, and the batters run. If it runs to the boundary, it is four byes. Byes usually mean the keeper has missed the ball, so they reflect on the keeper.
Leg byes
A leg bye happens when the ball hits the batter's body, and the batters run. There is one condition. The batter must have tried to play a shot, or tried to get out of the way. If they did neither, the umpire calls a dead ball and no runs count.
Overthrows
An overthrow happens when a fielder throws at the stumps and the ball runs away. The batters can keep running. Any extra runs go to whoever the original runs went to. So if the batter hit the ball, the overthrows count as the batter's runs.
Overthrows to the boundary
If an overthrow reaches the boundary, the batting side gets four runs. It also keeps any runs already completed. It gets one more for the run in progress, but only if the batters had crossed when the throw was made.
Example: the batters complete one run, then cross on the second as the fielder throws. The ball runs to the rope. The total is 4 + 1 + 1, which is 6 runs.
Penalty runs
The umpire awards five penalty runs to the batting side for things like:
- The ball hitting a fielder's helmet lying on the ground.
- A fielder deliberately stopping the ball with anything other than their body, such as a cap.
- Fake fielding, where a fielder pretends to have the ball to trick the batters.
- The fielding side damaging the pitch or changing the condition of the ball.
Five penalty runs can also go to the fielding side, for example if a batter deliberately runs short or damages the pitch.
Frequently asked questions
Are byes counted in a batter's score?
No. Byes and leg byes go into extras, not the batter's score. They still count towards the team total.
Who gets overthrow runs?
Overthrows go to whoever got the original runs. If the ball came off the bat, the batter gets them. If it was a bye, they count as byes.
Can you get a leg bye without playing a shot?
No. The batter must attempt a shot or try to avoid the ball. Otherwise the runs do not count.
How many penalty runs are given in cricket?
Penalty runs are awarded in fives, for breaches such as the ball hitting a fielder's helmet on the ground.