Getting out is one of the most important parts of cricket. A batter can score hundreds of runs, but one legal dismissal brings that innings to an end.
Most cricket fans know the common dismissals such as bowled, caught, LBW and run out. However, the Laws of Cricket recognise several other ways a batter can be dismissed, some of which are extremely rare.
The current MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 Code, 4th Edition (2026) contains specific laws covering dismissals from Bowled through Timed Out, while retirement is covered separately under Law 25. MCC's 2026 edition comes into force on 1 October 2026.
In this guide, we explain the recognised dismissal methods in simple language, with examples, important exceptions and the differences between similar dismissals.
How Many Ways Can a Batter Get Out in Cricket?
Under the modern Laws of Cricket, the dismissal methods commonly described are:
Bowled
Caught
Leg Before Wicket (LBW)
Run Out
Stumped
Hit Wicket
Obstructing the Field
Hit the Ball Twice
Timed Out
Retired Out
The MCC Laws list Bowled, Caught, Hit the Ball Twice, Hit Wicket, LBW, Obstructing the Field, Run Out, Stumped and Timed Out within the dismissal laws. Retirement is dealt with separately under Law 25.
Some of these dismissals are extremely rare in professional cricket.
1. Bowled
Bowled is one of the simplest dismissals in cricket.
A batter is out Bowled when a legal delivery from the bowler breaks the striker's wicket.
That means the ball must cause at least one bail to be completely removed or a stump to be knocked out of the ground.
The delivery must not be a No ball.
Example
A fast bowler delivers a yorker.
The batter misses it.
The ball hits the stumps and a bail falls.
Decision: OUT — Bowled.
Can a batter be bowled after the ball hits the bat?
Yes.
The ball can touch the batter's bat before hitting the wicket.
For example:
Bat → ball → stumps → OUT
The batter is still Bowled.
Can a batter be bowled off a No ball?
No.
If the umpire has called No ball, the batter cannot be dismissed Bowled from that delivery.
What if the ball touches another player first?
There are specific exceptions. Under Law 32, if the ball has contacted another player or umpire before breaking the striker's wicket, the dismissal is not Bowled and another applicable dismissal may need to be considered.
2. Caught
Caught is probably the most common dismissal in cricket.
A batter is out Caught when a delivery that is not a No ball touches the batter's bat and is subsequently held by a fielder as a fair catch before the ball touches the ground.
This includes:
Caught behind
Slip catches
Gully catches
Point catches
Cover catches
Mid-off catches
Mid-on catches
Boundary catches
Example
The batter edges a fast bowler.
The ball travels behind the wicket.
The wicketkeeper catches it cleanly before it touches the ground.
Decision: OUT — Caught.
The scorecard may record this as:
c Wicketkeeper b Bowler
What is Caught Behind?
A caught behind happens when the batter edges the ball and the wicketkeeper catches it.
For example:
Bowler → edge → wicketkeeper → catch
It is still legally a Caught dismissal.
"Caught behind" is a common cricket expression rather than a separate dismissal category.
Can a batter be caught off a No ball?
No.
A batter cannot be dismissed Caught from a delivery called No ball.
However, other consequences can still apply depending on what happens during the delivery.
Can a fielder catch the ball after it bounces?
No.
For a normal caught dismissal, the ball must be held as a fair catch before touching the ground.
3. LBW — Leg Before Wicket
LBW stands for Leg Before Wicket.
This dismissal happens when a batter illegally prevents the ball from hitting the wicket with their body, subject to the detailed requirements of the LBW Law.
The umpire considers factors including:
Where the ball pitched
Whether it hit the batter in line with the wickets
Whether the batter attempted a shot
Whether the ball would have hit the wickets
LBW is one of the most complicated cricket dismissals, which is why it is frequently reviewed using DRS.
Simple example
A bowler delivers a straight ball.
The batter misses it.
The ball strikes the batter's pad in the relevant area.
Ball-tracking shows that it would have hit the stumps.
Decision: OUT — LBW, provided all other LBW conditions are satisfied.
Why Are Some LBW Decisions Not Out?
A batter may survive an LBW appeal because:
The ball pitched outside leg stump
The ball hit the batter outside the relevant line after a genuine shot, depending on the circumstances
The ball would have missed the stumps
The ball hit the bat first
Another condition of the LBW Law was not satisfied
LBW is therefore much more than simply "the ball hit the pad."
4. Run Out
A Run out occurs when a batter is out of their ground while the ball is in play and a fielder fairly breaks the appropriate wicket.
Importantly, a run out can occur even when the batter is not actually attempting a run.
Example
The batter hits the ball into the infield.
Both batters run.
The fielder collects the ball and breaks the stumps before the batter reaches the crease.
Decision: OUT — Run out.
Can a Batter Be Run Out on a No Ball?
Yes, in circumstances permitted by the Laws.
MCC's Law 38 specifically states that either batter can be out Run out while the ball is in play even though No ball has been called, subject to the exceptions in the Law.
This is an important difference between Run out and many other dismissals.
Can the Non-Striker Be Run Out?
Yes.
The non-striker must remain within the relevant ground until the point required by the Laws.
The modern Laws place the non-striker's early departure within the Run out law rather than treating it as a separate "unfair play" dismissal.
This is sometimes popularly called a non-striker run out or "Mankad."
5. Stumped
A batter is Stumped when the wicketkeeper puts down the striker's wicket while the striker is out of their ground and has not attempted a run, provided the delivery is not a No ball and the other conditions of the Law are satisfied.
Typical example
A spinner bowls.
The batter comes down the pitch.
The batter misses the ball.
The wicketkeeper collects it and breaks the stumps before the batter gets back behind the crease.
Decision: OUT — Stumped.
Stumped vs Run Out
These dismissals can look almost identical.
| Situation | Dismissal |
|---|---|
| Batter leaves crease to play a shot and misses; wicketkeeper breaks stumps | Stumped |
| Batter is attempting a run and is short of the crease | Run out |
| Striker is out of ground and wicketkeeper breaks wicket without a run attempt | Stumped |
| No-ball delivery | Not Stumped |
The key distinction is usually whether the striker attempted a run.
Under Law 39, a stumping can also take precedence over a Run out when its conditions are satisfied.
Can You Be Stumped Off a Wide?
Yes.
This is a common point of confusion.
A batter can be Stumped from a Wide, provided all the conditions for Stumped are satisfied.
The Wide penalty remains in the score.
Can You Be Stumped Off a No Ball?
No.
Law 39 specifically requires that the delivery must not be a No ball for a Stumped dismissal.
6. Hit Wicket
A batter is out Hit Wicket if, while receiving a delivery, they break their own wicket in circumstances covered by the Hit Wicket Law.
This can happen because of:
The batter's bat
The batter's body
Clothing
Equipment that becomes detached from the batter
The wicket must be fairly broken under the relevant wicket law.
Example
A batter attempts a pull shot.
While playing the shot, the batter's back foot hits the stumps.
A bail falls.
Decision: OUT — Hit Wicket.
Famous Hit Wicket Situations
Hit wicket can happen in several unusual ways.
For example, a batter may:
Step backwards into the stumps
Fall into the stumps
Knock the stumps with the bat
Dislodge a bail while attempting a shot
It is not necessary for the batter to deliberately hit the wicket.
7. Obstructing the Field
Obstructing the Field is one of cricket's rarest and most misunderstood dismissals.
A batter can be dismissed if they wilfully attempt to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action, subject to the exceptions in the Law.
The Law can also apply when the striker deliberately strikes the ball with a hand that is not holding the bat while receiving the delivery.
Example
A batter deliberately moves into the path of a fielder who is attempting to field the ball.
If the obstruction is deliberate and the conditions of the Law are satisfied:
Decision: OUT — Obstructing the Field.
Accidental Obstruction
Not every collision or obstruction results in a dismissal.
The Law distinguishes deliberate obstruction from accidental obstruction.
Therefore:
Accidental contact ≠ automatically out.
The umpire must consider the circumstances and the relevant Law.
What Happened to "Handled the Ball"?
Many older cricket fans remember Handled the Ball as a separate dismissal.
It is no longer a separate dismissal category.
The relevant situations are covered under Obstructing the Field.
This is an important difference between older explanations of cricket's dismissal laws and the modern Laws.
8. Hit the Ball Twice
This is one of the strangest dismissal methods in cricket.
A batter can be out Hit the Ball Twice if, while the ball is in play, the batter deliberately strikes the ball a second time before it has been touched by a fielder, except where the second strike is solely for the purpose of protecting their wicket and is otherwise permitted by the Law.
Example
A batter plays a defensive shot.
The ball rolls a short distance.
The batter deliberately hits the ball again with the bat to prevent it from reaching the fielders.
If the second strike is not permitted under the Law:
Decision: OUT — Hit the Ball Twice.
Can a Batter Hit the Ball Twice to Protect the Wicket?
Yes, in limited circumstances.
The Laws allow a batter to lawfully strike the ball again solely to guard their wicket, subject to the restrictions in Law 34.
The 2026 Laws also clarify provisions concerning a lawful second strike and what happens if a fielder interferes with it.
9. Timed Out
Timed Out is one of the rarest dismissals in cricket.
After a wicket falls or a batter retires, the incoming batter must be ready to receive the ball, or the existing batter must be ready to receive the next ball, within the time specified by the applicable Laws or playing conditions.
Under the MCC Law, the standard period is three minutes. However, competition playing conditions can specify a different period. For example, ICC's ODI playing conditions have used two minutes.
Why Does Timed Out Exist?
The rule prevents a batting team from deliberately delaying the match after a wicket falls.
Example
A batter is dismissed.
The next batter takes too long to arrive and is not ready to receive the next delivery within the applicable time.
The fielding captain appeals.
If all requirements are satisfied:
Decision: OUT — Timed Out.
The Angelo Mathews Timed-Out Incident
Timed Out became internationally famous during the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup when Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews was dismissed against Bangladesh.
MCC explained that the relevant ICC playing condition allowed two minutes, rather than the three minutes in the MCC Law, and that the incoming batter needed to be ready to receive the ball within that period.
This remains one of the most unusual dismissal incidents in modern international cricket.
10. Retired Out
Retired Out is different from Retired Hurt.
Under Law 25, a batter may retire when the ball is dead.
If the retirement is because of illness, injury or another unavoidable cause, the batter is recorded as Retired – not out if they do not resume their innings.
If the batter retires for another reason and does not resume their innings, they are recorded as Retired – out, subject to the Law's provisions.
Example
A batter is on 80 runs.
The batter voluntarily leaves the field for a reason that does not qualify as illness, injury or another unavoidable cause.
The batter does not return to continue the innings.
The scorecard records:
Retired – out
Retired Hurt vs Retired Out
| Situation | Scorecard |
|---|---|
| Batter retires because of injury and does not return | Retired – not out |
| Batter retires because of illness and does not return | Retired – not out |
| Batter retires for another reason and does not resume | Retired – out |
| Batter retires and later resumes under the permitted conditions | Innings can continue |
This distinction is important because retiring from the innings does not automatically mean the batter is out.
Complete List of Cricket Dismissals
Here is a quick reference:
| Dismissal | Simple Explanation |
|---|---|
| Bowled | Ball legally breaks the striker's wicket |
| Caught | Ball touches bat and is fairly caught before touching ground |
| LBW | Batter illegally prevents a ball from hitting the wicket, subject to LBW conditions |
| Run out | Batter is out of their ground and wicket is fairly broken while ball is in play |
| Stumped | Wicketkeeper breaks striker's wicket while striker is out of ground and has not attempted a run |
| Hit wicket | Batter breaks their own wicket in circumstances covered by the Law |
| Obstructing the field | Batter deliberately obstructs or distracts the fielding side |
| Hit the ball twice | Batter illegally strikes the ball again |
| Timed out | Incoming batter fails to be ready within the applicable time |
| Retired out | Batter retires for a reason other than an unavoidable cause and does not resume |
Which Dismissals Can Happen Off a No Ball?
This is a useful rule to remember.
A No ball provides special protection against several dismissals.
For example:
Bowled: No
Caught: No
LBW: No
Stumped: No
Run out: Yes, in specified circumstances
Obstructing the field: Can apply
Hit the ball twice: Can apply
The exact circumstances matter, so "No ball means the batter cannot get out" is not correct.
Which Dismissal Is Most Common?
In normal cricket, the dismissals seen most frequently are:
Caught
Bowled
LBW
Run out
Stumped
The exact distribution varies considerably by format, pitch, playing conditions and style of cricket.
Rare dismissals such as Timed Out, Hit the Ball Twice and Obstructing the Field occur far less frequently.
Important Difference: Wicket vs Dismissal
The word wicket can have several meanings in cricket.
For example:
"India lost a wicket."
This normally means a batter was dismissed.
But "wicket" can also refer to:
The three stumps and two bails
The pitch
The batting end
A dismissal in a scorecard
Understanding the context is important.
What Does "Wicket Fell" Mean?
When commentators say:
"The wicket has fallen."
They normally mean a batter has been dismissed.
For example:
India 125/4
means India has scored 125 runs and lost four wickets.
Those four wickets could have been any combination of dismissals.
For example:
2 caught
1 bowled
1 LBW
Cricket Dismissal Abbreviations
Scorecards often use short forms.
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
|---|---|
| b | Bowled by |
| c | Caught |
| lbw | Leg Before Wicket |
| st | Stumped |
| run out | Run out |
| hw | Hit Wicket |
| ret. out | Retired Out |
| ret. not out | Retired Not Out |
| Timed out | Timed Out |
A caught dismissal normally identifies the fielder and bowler.
Example:
Virat Kohli c Pant b Bumrah
This means Kohli was caught by Pant off Bumrah's bowling.
Caught vs LBW vs Bowled
These three dismissals are sometimes confused by beginners.
Bowled
The ball hits the wicket.
Ball → Stumps
Caught
The ball touches the bat and is caught before touching the ground.
Ball → Bat → Fielder
LBW
The ball hits the batter's person instead of the bat and satisfies the LBW requirements.
Ball → Batter's person → Would have hit wicket
Stumped vs Run Out
This is another common source of confusion.
Stumped
Usually involves:
Wicketkeeper + striker + no run attempt
Run Out
Usually involves:
Fielder + batter outside ground
But the Laws contain detailed exceptions, so the decision cannot always be determined simply by looking at which player broke the wicket.
Can a Batter Be Out Without the Ball Hitting the Stumps?
Yes.
Many dismissals do not require the ball to hit the stumps directly.
Examples include:
Caught
LBW
Run out
Stumped
Obstructing the field
Timed out
Retired out
Hit the ball twice
This is why understanding cricket dismissals is essential for understanding the Laws of the game.
Can a Batter Be Out Without Attempting a Run?
Yes.
A batter does not have to be running to be dismissed.
For example:
Bowled
Caught
LBW
Stumped
Hit wicket
Obstructing the field
Hit the ball twice
Timed out
A Run out can also occur even when a run is not being attempted, because the Law is concerned with whether the batter is out of their ground while the ball is in play.
Why Cricket Has So Many Dismissal Laws
Cricket has evolved over hundreds of years.
The Laws need to deal with situations ranging from ordinary deliveries hitting the stumps to unusual situations involving:
Fielding attempts
Batting technique
Deliberate obstruction
Delays
Retirement
Multiple contacts with the ball
Batters leaving their grounds
The result is a detailed set of Laws that covers both common and extremely unusual situations.
The MCC's 2026 Code contains 73 material changes, although many changes concern broader areas of cricket rather than creating new dismissal categories.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cricket Dismissals
How many ways can a batter get out in cricket?
The modern Laws recognise ten commonly listed dismissal methods when Retired Out is included alongside the nine dismissal laws: Bowled, Caught, Hit the Ball Twice, Hit Wicket, LBW, Obstructing the Field, Run Out, Stumped, Timed Out and Retired Out.
What is the most common way to get out in cricket?
Caught is generally the most common type of dismissal across normal cricket, although the exact frequency varies by format and conditions.
Can you be out on a No ball?
Yes. A No ball prevents several common dismissals, but dismissals such as Run out and Obstructing the Field can still apply in specified circumstances.
Can you be stumped on a Wide?
Yes. A batter can be Stumped from a Wide if all the requirements of the Stumped Law are satisfied.
Can you be stumped on a No ball?
No. Stumped requires that the delivery was not called No ball.
Is retired hurt the same as retired out?
No. A batter retiring because of illness, injury or another unavoidable cause is recorded as Retired – not out if they do not return. A batter retiring for another reason who does not resume is recorded as Retired – out under the relevant Law.
What is the rarest dismissal in cricket?
There is no single official answer for every level and format of cricket, but dismissals such as Timed Out, Hit the Ball Twice and Obstructing the Field are extremely rare compared with Caught, Bowled, LBW, Run out and Stumped.
What does "caught behind" mean?
Caught behind means the batter edges the ball and the wicketkeeper catches it. Legally, it is a Caught dismissal.
Final Takeaway
Cricket has a surprisingly detailed system for dismissing batters.
The five dismissals beginners should learn first are:
Bowled → Caught → LBW → Run Out → Stumped
Once those are understood, the less common dismissals become much easier to follow:
Hit Wicket → Obstructing the Field → Hit the Ball Twice → Timed Out → Retired Out
The key lesson is that not every dismissal requires the ball to hit the stumps, and not every unusual-looking incident is automatically a dismissal. The umpire applies the specific Law that matches the circumstances.
The 2026 MCC Laws also reinforce an important point: cricket rules continue to evolve, so older explanations of dismissals can sometimes be outdated.
Next Article in the Series
Part 6: Cricket Bowling Explained — Fast Bowling, Swing, Seam and Spin
In the next guide, we will explain how cricket bowling works, including:
Fast bowling
Swing bowling
Seam bowling
Reverse swing
Spin bowling
Off-spin
Leg-spin
Googly
Doosra
Carrom ball
Yorker
Bouncer
Full toss
Slower balls
Bowling speed
Line and length
Economy rate
Bowling strike rate
How bowlers build a dismissal
How captains use different bowling types
