All the ways to get out in cricket
The Laws of Cricket list nine ways a batter can be dismissed. Five of them are credited to the bowler. The fielding side must usually appeal before the umpire gives a batter out, except when the batter is clearly bowled or walks off.
| Dismissal | What happens | Bowler gets the wicket? |
|---|---|---|
| Bowled | The ball hits the stumps and knocks off a bail. | Yes |
| Caught | A fielder catches the ball off the bat or glove before it touches the ground. | Yes |
| LBW | The ball hits the batter's body when it would have hit the stumps. See the LBW rule. | Yes |
| Stumped | The keeper breaks the wicket while the batter is out of the crease and not attempting a run. | Yes |
| Hit wicket | The batter knocks the stumps with the bat or body while playing a shot or setting off for a run. | Yes |
| Run out | A fielder breaks the wicket while the batter is out of the crease during play. | No |
| Obstructing the field | The batter deliberately blocks or distracts the fielding side. Handling the ball on purpose now falls under this. | No |
| Hit the ball twice | The batter deliberately strikes the ball a second time, except to protect the stumps. | No |
| Timed out | The new batter is not ready to face within the time allowed after a wicket. | No |
Retired out
A batter who leaves the field without the umpire's permission and without injury or illness is recorded as retired out. It counts as a dismissal in the scorebook. Teams sometimes use it tactically in T20 cricket to bring in a faster hitter.
Running out the non-striker
If the non-striker leaves the crease before the bowler would normally release the ball, the bowler may run them out. This was once called "Mankading". Since 2022 it has been part of the ordinary run-out law.
What about "handled the ball"?
Handled the ball was a separate dismissal until 2017. It was merged into obstructing the field. That is why older lists show ten ways instead of nine.
Out on a no-ball or free hit
On a no-ball, a batter can only be out run out, hit the ball twice or obstructing the field. The same applies on a free hit.
The most common dismissals
Caught is by far the most common way to get out in all formats. Bowled and LBW come next. Run outs happen more in limited-overs cricket, where batters take more risks between the wickets. Timed out and obstructing the field are very rare.
What counts as a fair catch?
- The fielder must control the ball before it touches the ground.
- The ball can touch the fielder's body, not just their hands.
- A catch off the keeper's gloves or the helmet of a close fielder can still count, as long as the ball has not hit the ground.
- Near the rope, a fielder can juggle the ball, step out and come back. The catch stands only if they were inside the boundary, or last touched the ground inside it, whenever they touched the ball.
Stumped or run out?
Both involve the stumps being broken while the batter is out of the crease. The difference is whether the batter was trying to run.
- Stumped: the batter steps out to play a shot, misses, and the keeper breaks the wicket. The bowler gets the credit.
- Run out: the batter is trying to take a run when the wicket is broken. The bowler does not get the credit.
A batter can be stumped off a wide, but not off a no-ball.
Appealing
An umpire usually cannot give a batter out unless the fielding side appeals, often by shouting "Howzat?". One appeal covers every possible way of being out on that ball. A batter who is clearly bowled, or who walks off knowing they are out, needs no appeal.
Famous rare dismissals
Angelo Mathews of Sri Lanka became the first batter given timed out in men's international cricket, at the 2023 World Cup. His helmet strap broke before he faced a ball, and Bangladesh appealed.
Frequently asked questions
How many ways can you get out in cricket?
There are nine ways in the current Laws: bowled, caught, LBW, stumped, hit wicket, run out, obstructing the field, hit the ball twice and timed out.
Is a run out credited to the bowler?
No. Run outs are credited to the fielding side, not the bowler.
How much time does a new batter get?
The Laws allow three minutes. Many international playing conditions shorten this to two minutes.
Can a batter be caught off a no-ball?
No. Off a no-ball a batter can only be run out, out for hitting the ball twice, or out for obstructing the field.
What does 'walking' mean in cricket?
Walking means a batter leaves the field without waiting for the umpire's decision, because they know they are out.
Can you be out if the ball hits the helmet and is caught?
Yes. If the ball comes off the bat or glove and is caught after hitting a fielder's helmet, the batter is out caught.