Scoring runs in cricket
Encyclopedia
In cricket
, to score a run
, a striker must hit the ball
and run to the opposite end of the pitch
, while his non-striking partner runs to his end. Both runners must touch the ground behind the popping crease with either his bat or his body to register a run. If the striker hits the ball well enough, the batsmen may double back to score two or more runs. At times, four or more runs may be scored off a single ball in this fashion. This is known as running between wickets. However, if a fielder knocks the bails off the stumps with the ball while no batsman is grounded behind the nearest popping crease; the nearest batsman is run-out. (See: Dismissal of a Batsman
for more details.)
The batsmen will elect to run only when they believe they have a good chance of scoring runs without getting out in this fashion. If the striker hits the ball to a nearby fielder, the batsmen may simply choose not to run.
If the batsman hits the ball such that the fielders fail to stop it reaching the boundary of the field, four runs are credited to him immediately, irrespective of the number of times he ran between the wickets. If the ball flies directly over the boundary without touching the ground inside the field, then the batsman scores six runs instead of four.
Runs are credited to a batsman if he hits the ball with his bat, or with a gloved hand holding the bat. Runs may also be accrued directly to the team's score through extras and penalty runs.
Other than the cases of an LBW and bowled
, a batsman cannot be penalised for failing to hit the ball. Runs scored by the batsman off the bat, or the gloved hand holding the bat. These runs are recorded to the batsman's personal tally.
All extras are credited to the team total, rather than an individual batsmen. They are also referred to as sundries.
by an umpire, runs scored off it are credited to the batsman just like any other shot. However he cannot be out caught, bowled, stumped, LBW or hit-wicket to a no-ball. One extra run is directly credited to the team.
, but such cases are very rare). Runs accrued in such a case are credited to the team.
and four byes are recorded. If the umpire rules that runs were not able to be scored, he will send the batsman back to the strikers' end. These runs are credited to the team, not the batsman.
, four additional "wides" are added to the team's score, making a total of five.
in the centre, having been thrown in from the outfield
, the batsmen may continue to run. Such runs are called overthrows. They usually occur when a fielder aims unsuccessfully at the stumps in an attempt to run out
a batsman, although sometimes they are due to handling errors by the fielder receiving the ball.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
, to score a run
Run (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a run is the basic unit of scoring. Runs are scored by a batsman, and the aggregate of the scores of a team's batsmen constitutes the team's score. A batsman scoring 50 or 100 runs , or any higher multiple of 50 runs, is considered a particular achievement...
, a striker must hit the ball
Cricket ball
A cricket ball is a hard, solid leather ball used to play cricket. Constructed of cork and leather, a cricket ball is heavily regulated by cricket law at first class level...
and run to the opposite end of the pitch
Cricket pitch
In the game of cricket, the cricket pitch consists of the central strip of the cricket field between the wickets - 1 chain or 22 yards long and 10 feet wide. The surface is very flat and normally covered with extremely short grass though this grass is soon removed by wear at the ends of the...
, while his non-striking partner runs to his end. Both runners must touch the ground behind the popping crease with either his bat or his body to register a run. If the striker hits the ball well enough, the batsmen may double back to score two or more runs. At times, four or more runs may be scored off a single ball in this fashion. This is known as running between wickets. However, if a fielder knocks the bails off the stumps with the ball while no batsman is grounded behind the nearest popping crease; the nearest batsman is run-out. (See: Dismissal of a Batsman
Dismissal (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a dismissal occurs when the batsman is out . Colloquially, the fielding team is also said to have snared, bagged or captured a wicket. At this point a batsman must discontinue batting and leave the field permanently for the innings...
for more details.)
The batsmen will elect to run only when they believe they have a good chance of scoring runs without getting out in this fashion. If the striker hits the ball to a nearby fielder, the batsmen may simply choose not to run.
If the batsman hits the ball such that the fielders fail to stop it reaching the boundary of the field, four runs are credited to him immediately, irrespective of the number of times he ran between the wickets. If the ball flies directly over the boundary without touching the ground inside the field, then the batsman scores six runs instead of four.
Runs are credited to a batsman if he hits the ball with his bat, or with a gloved hand holding the bat. Runs may also be accrued directly to the team's score through extras and penalty runs.
Other than the cases of an LBW and bowled
Bowled
Bowled is a method of dismissing a batsman in the sport of cricket. This method of dismissal is covered by Law 30 of the Laws of cricket.A batsman is out bowled if his wicket is put down by a ball delivered by the bowler...
, a batsman cannot be penalised for failing to hit the ball. Runs scored by the batsman off the bat, or the gloved hand holding the bat. These runs are recorded to the batsman's personal tally.
Scoring off extras
See also: ExtrasExtra (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, an extra is a run scored by a means other than a batsman hitting the ball.Other than runs scored off the bat from a no ball, a batsman is not given credit for extras and the extras are tallied separately on the scorecard and count only towards the team's score...
All extras are credited to the team total, rather than an individual batsmen. They are also referred to as sundries.
No ball
If a batsman hits a ball which is called a no ballNo ball
In the sport of cricket a no ball is a penalty against the fielding team, usually as a result of an illegal delivery by the bowler. The delivery of a no ball results in one run to be added to the batting team's score, and an additional ball must be bowled...
by an umpire, runs scored off it are credited to the batsman just like any other shot. However he cannot be out caught, bowled, stumped, LBW or hit-wicket to a no-ball. One extra run is directly credited to the team.
Leg bye
If the batsman attempts to hit the ball, but the ball instead strikes the body of the batsman, the batsman may scamper off for a run if he deems it is possible. Run outs are the only possible conventional dismissal applicable in this case (batsmen may also be dismissed Obstructing the Field or Handled the BallDismissal (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a dismissal occurs when the batsman is out . Colloquially, the fielding team is also said to have snared, bagged or captured a wicket. At this point a batsman must discontinue batting and leave the field permanently for the innings...
, but such cases are very rare). Runs accrued in such a case are credited to the team.
Bye
If the batsman attempts to hit the ball, but fails to hit the ball, the batsman may scamper off for a run if the ball is at a considerable distance from an opposing player, enabling him to reach the other end. As in the case of a leg bye, a run out is the only conventional dismissal in this case. If the batsman leaves the ball by not offering a shot, no runs are recorded, unless the ball reaches the boundaryBoundary (cricket)
Boundary has two distinct meanings in the sport of cricket:# the edge or boundary of the playing field, and# a manner of scoring runs.-Edge of the field:...
and four byes are recorded. If the umpire rules that runs were not able to be scored, he will send the batsman back to the strikers' end. These runs are credited to the team, not the batsman.
Wide
In the case of a wide, one run is automatically added to the batting team's total. The batsman might try and score additional runs, which are then recorded as additional wides. Unlike in the case of byes and leg byes, a batsman may also be [stumped (cricket)] from a wide delivery; bowlers in Limited Overs games may intentionally concede one run in an attempt to gain such a dismissal.Mixed scenarios
In the case of a wide, in the event of the wicket keeper and fielders being unable to prevent the ball from going to the boundaryBoundary (cricket)
Boundary has two distinct meanings in the sport of cricket:# the edge or boundary of the playing field, and# a manner of scoring runs.-Edge of the field:...
, four additional "wides" are added to the team's score, making a total of five.
Penal runs
In the event of the fielder catching the ball with a helmet or clothing, 5 runs are awarded to the batting side. If the ball strikes a fielder's helmet (or any other equipment, such as shin guards or a drink bottle) lying vacant on the field, the same penalty is imposed.Overthrows
In the event of the ball not being collected by a fielderFielding (cricket)
Fielding in the sport of cricket is the action of fielders in collecting the ball after it is struck by the batsman, in such a way as to either limit the number of runs that the batsman scores or get the batsman out by catching the ball in flight or running the batsman out.Cricket fielding position...
in the centre, having been thrown in from the outfield
Outfield
The outfield is a sporting term used in cricket and baseball to refer to the area of the field of play further from the batsman or batter than the infield...
, the batsmen may continue to run. Such runs are called overthrows. They usually occur when a fielder aims unsuccessfully at the stumps in an attempt to run out
Run out
Run out is a method of dismissal in the sport of cricket. It is governed by Law 38 of the Laws of cricket.-The rules:A batsman is out Run out if at any time while the ball is in play no part of his bat or person is grounded behind the popping crease and his wicket is fairly put down by the opposing...
a batsman, although sometimes they are due to handling errors by the fielder receiving the ball.