Dismissals (ways to get out)
There are ten ways to be out. The common ones are bowled, caught, LBW, run out and stumped. A batter is only given out if the fielding side appeals.
What you need to know
- The ten ways: Bowled, Caught, Leg before wicket (LBW), Run out, Stumped, Hit wicket, Hit the ball twice, Obstructing the field, Timed out, and Retired – out.
- Off a no-ball only Run out, Hit the ball twice and Obstructing the field are possible.
- Off a wide only Hit wicket, Obstructing the field, Run out and Stumped are possible.
- An incoming batter must be ready to face (or be at the other end ready) within 3 minutes of the previous batter being out, or they are Timed out.
- Hit the ball twice: out if the striker deliberately hits the ball again, other than to protect their stumps, before a fielder has touched it.
- Obstructing the field: out if a batter deliberately obstructs or distracts the fielders, or deliberately knocks the ball away with a hand that isn't holding the bat.
Examples
Specific situations
Hitting the ball a second time
You can hit the ball again only to stop it hitting your stumps. Hitting it a second time on purpose for any other reason is out, hit the ball twice.
- Law 34.1.1: the striker is out if they wilfully strike the ball again before a fielder has touched it, except for the sole purpose of guarding their wicket.
- Using a hand that isn't holding the bat — even to protect your stumps — is out, obstructing the field (Law 37.1.2).
- It applies whether or not no-ball was called (Law 34.1.3).
Source: MCC Law 34 · MCC Law 37
A new batter taking too long
The new batter is out, timed out, if they aren't ready to face — or the other batter isn't ready to face — within 3 minutes of the wicket or retirement.
- Law 40.1.1 sets the 3 minutes.
- The bowler doesn't get credit for the wicket (Law 40.2).
Source: MCC Law 40
A throw hits a batter
Play carries on. The ball stays in play, the batters can keep running and the runs count. The batter is not out — unless they got in the way on purpose.
- Hitting a batter isn't one of the things that makes the ball dead (Law 20.1).
- A batter is only out obstructing the field for a WILFUL obstruction; an accidental one, or one to avoid injury, is not out (Laws 37.1.1 and 37.2).
Source: MCC Law 20 · MCC Law 37
A batter hands or kicks the ball back to a fielder
Out, obstructing the field (on appeal) — if the ball was still in play and the fielder hadn't agreed to it.
- Law 37.4.
Source: MCC Law 37
A batter obstructs the fielding side
Out, obstructing the field, on appeal — if it was wilful. Accidental obstruction, or obstruction to avoid injury, is not out.
- Law 37.1.1 (wilful obstruction), Law 37.2 (not out cases).
- Striking the ball with a hand not holding the bat is also obstructing (Law 37.1.2).
Source: MCC Law 37
Retiring
A batter may retire whenever the ball is dead. Retired hurt (illness, injury, unavoidable cause): they can come back later, otherwise they're 'retired not out'. Retired for any other reason: back only with the opposing captain's consent, otherwise 'retired out'.
- Law 25.4.
Source: MCC Law 25
Official source
The Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026). Summary in Inswing's own words — follow the link for the official text.
Related: Bowled · Caught · LBW (leg before wicket) · Run out · Stumped · Hit wicket · Appeals