The Ways to Get Out

A batter's job is survival as much as scoring — every dismissal is a small disaster for the batting side. The Laws of Cricket recognise ten ways a batter can be out. In practice the game runs on five of them; the other five are the curiosities that make commentators sit up.

The everyday five#

• Bowled — the ball hits the stumps and dislodges a bail, however it gets there (off the bat, the pad, or clean through). Unanswerable.
• Caught — a fielder catches the ball on the full after it has touched the bat or glove. The most common dismissal in the sport.
• Leg Before Wicket (LBW) — the ball strikes the batter's body (usually the pad) when, in the umpire's judgement, it would otherwise have gone on to hit the stumps. Several conditions apply, which is why it is the game's most-debated decision.
• Run Out — the fielding side breaks the stumps with the ball while a batter is out of their ground attempting a run.
• Stumped — the wicketkeeper breaks the stumps while the batter is out of their crease and not attempting a run, typically after being beaten by a spinner.

The rare five#

• Hit Wicket — the batter knocks their own stumps over with bat, body or kit while playing a shot or setting off for a run.
• Hit the Ball Twice — deliberately striking the ball a second time with the bat (other than to protect the wicket). Almost never seen.
• Obstructing the Field — wilfully blocking or distracting a fielder; this Law now also absorbs the old 'handled the ball' dismissal.
• Timed Out — a new batter fails to be ready to face the next ball within the allotted time after a wicket falls.
• Retired Out — a batter leaves the field without the umpire's or opposition's consent and does not return; recorded as a dismissal.

One you will hear shouted but will not find on this list: 'howzat!' is not a dismissal — it is simply the fielding side appealing to the umpire. By Law, a batter is only out if the fielding side appeals, even when the dismissal looks obvious. No appeal, no wicket.

Bowled and caught take the wicket. LBW and run out start the argument.