Under the current Laws of Cricket, a batter can be dismissed in 10 recognized ways: Bowled, Caught, Hit the Ball Twice, Hit Wicket, Leg Before Wicket (LBW), Obstructing the Field, Run Out, Stumped, Timed Out, and Retired Out.
Most cricket fans regularly see only four or five of these. I remember initially thinking getting out basically meant being caught, bowled, LBW, run out or stumped. Once you actually read the Laws, you realize cricket has some surprisingly unusual dismissal rules.
10 Dismissals
Here are the recognized ways a batter can get out:
No. | Dismissal |
|---|---|
1 | Bowled |
2 | Caught |
3 | Hit the Ball Twice |
4 | Hit Wicket |
5 | Leg Before Wicket (LBW) |
6 | Obstructing the Field |
7 | Run Out |
8 | Stumped |
9 | Timed Out |
10 | Retired Out |
The first nine have dedicated dismissal Laws 32–40, while Retired Out arises under Law 25 when a batter retires for a reason not accepted under the applicable retirement provisions and does not resume as permitted.
Common Methods
The dismissals you'll encounter most frequently are Caught, Bowled, LBW, Run Out and Stumped.
Caught happens when a legal delivery touches the batter's bat and a fielder catches it before it touches the ground.
Bowled is even simpler: a legal delivery puts down the striker's wicket.
LBW is more technical. It applies only when several conditions are satisfied, including where the ball pitched, where it hit the batter and whether it would have hit the wicket.
This is also why LBW decisions create so much discussion—there is much more involved than “ball hit the pad.”
Individual Explanations
Run Out occurs when a batter is out of their ground and a fielder fairly breaks the wicket while the ball is in play, subject to specific exceptions.
Stumped usually happens when the striker leaves their ground without attempting a run and the wicketkeeper puts down the wicket under the conditions of Law 39.
Hit Wicket occurs in specified circumstances when the striker breaks their own wicket while playing at the delivery or immediately setting off for a first run.
These rules become much easier to understand once you've actually watched them happen in matches rather than simply memorising their names.
Rare Dismissals
This is where cricket gets interesting.
Hit the Ball Twice can apply when a striker wilfully hits the ball again after the first contact, except in permitted circumstances such as solely protecting their wicket.
Obstructing the Field can occur when a batter wilfully obstructs or distracts the fielding side.
Timed Out applies when an incoming batter fails to become ready within the required period. Under the MCC Laws currently in force in July 2026, that period is three minutes, although competition-specific playing conditions may differ.
Rule Changes
Older cricket articles may give you a different number.
One major reason is “Handled the Ball.” It was historically a separate dismissal but was incorporated into Obstructing the Field in the 2017 Code.
Another important change came in 2022: running out a non-striker who leaves their ground early was moved from the Unfair Play section into the normal Run Out Law.
Also, MCC has published a new 2026 edition of the Laws that will take effect on 1 October 2026. So when checking cricket rules, the date of the source matters.
FAQs
How many ways can a batter get out in cricket?
There are 10 recognized dismissal types under the current Laws.
What are the most common dismissals?
Caught, bowled, LBW, run out and stumped are among the dismissals you'll see most often.
Can a batter be out for arriving late?
Yes. A batter can be Timed Out if the applicable requirements aren't met.
Is Handled the Ball still a separate dismissal?
No. It is now covered under Obstructing the Field rather than existing as a separate dismissal.
.jpeg&w=640&q=75)