LBW (leg before wicket)
The striker is out LBW if the ball hits their body (not the bat first) and would have gone on to hit the stumps — within rules about where it pitched and where it hit them.
What you need to know
- It must be a legal delivery — no LBW off a no-ball.
- The ball must not pitch outside the leg stump. It can pitch in line with the stumps or outside off stump.
- The ball must hit the body before touching the bat. If it hits bat and body at the same moment, that counts as bat first.
- Where it hits the body must be in line with the stumps — unless the batter made no genuine attempt to play it with the bat, in which case a hit outside off stump can still be out.
- The umpire must judge that the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.
- Only the ball's first contact with the batter matters.
Examples
Specific situations
LBW off a no-ball
Not out. You can't be LBW off a no-ball.
- Off a no-ball, neither batter can be out except hit the ball twice, obstructing the field or run out (Law 21.17).
- LBW needs a ball that is not a no-ball in the first place (Law 36.1.1).
Source: MCC Law 21 · MCC Law 36
LBW when the ball pitched outside leg
Not out. If the ball pitches outside leg stump, you can't be LBW — wherever it hits you.
- Law 36.1.2: the ball must first land in line between wicket and wicket or on the off side.
Source: MCC Law 36
LBW when hit outside off stump
It depends whether you played a shot. Hit outside the line of off stump while genuinely trying to play the ball with the bat: not out. No shot offered: you can be out, if the ball would have hit the stumps.
- Law 36.1.4: the impact must be between wicket and wicket — or, if the striker made no genuine attempt to play the ball with the bat, between wicket and wicket or outside the line of off stump.
- The ball must still have pitched in line or on the off side, and would have hit the wicket (Law 36.1.2 and 36.1.5).
Source: MCC Law 36
LBW after an edge
Not out. If the ball touched your bat first — or your bat and pad at the same time — you can't be LBW.
- Law 36.1.3: the ball must not have previously touched the bat.
- Law 36.2.2: bat and person at the same time counts as the bat first.
Source: MCC Law 36
Hit on the glove — LBW?
Not LBW, if the glove was on a hand holding the bat — that counts as the ball hitting the bat first.
- Law 5.6.2 (glove on the hand holding the bat = bat).
- LBW needs the ball not to have touched the bat first (Law 36.1.3).
Source: MCC Law 5 · MCC Law 36
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: Dismissals (ways to get out) · Appeals