Byes in Cricket Explained — What They Are and How They're Scored
A bye is an extra run in cricket scored when the ball passes the batter without touching the bat or body and the wicketkeeper fails to collect it. Learn how byes work, how they differ from leg byes, and whether they count against the bowler.
A bye is a type of extra in cricket awarded when a delivery passes the batter without touching the bat or the batter's body and the wicketkeeper fails to stop it — allowing the batters to complete runs. Byes are scored to the team's total but are NOT credited to the batter's individual score and do NOT count against the bowler's figures.
When is a bye awarded?
- The ball passes the batter without hitting bat or body.
- The wicketkeeper fails to stop the ball.
- The batters successfully complete runs while the ball is in play.
Byes vs leg byes
| Byes | Leg Byes |
|---|---|
| Ball misses bat AND body | Ball hits body (not bat) |
| Wicketkeeper fails to collect | Any fielder fails to collect |
| No playing shot required | Batter must attempt a stroke OR duck to avoid |
| Scored as 'B' in scorecard extras | Scored as 'LB' in scorecard extras |
Who is penalised for byes?
Byes are attributed to the wicketkeeper's account — they reflect lapses in keeping. The bowler's economy rate is unaffected by byes. In Test cricket statistics, byes are tracked separately to assess wicketkeeper performance over a series.
Byes at the boundary
If the ball reaches the boundary rope without being touched by a fielder, 4 byes are awarded (not 4 runs + 4 byes — it is just 4 byes). If the ball goes over the boundary on the full without touching a fielder, 6 byes are awarded — though this is extremely rare.
Byes in limited-overs cricket
In T20 and ODI cricket, byes can be match-deciding in close finishes. A wicketkeeper who concedes 6–10 byes in a T20 can cost their side a close game. Keeping is particularly demanding in T20 cricket because pace bowlers bowl more bouncers and slower balls, making collection harder.
Frequently asked questions
What is a bye in cricket?
A bye is an extra scored when a delivery passes the batter without hitting the bat or body, and the wicketkeeper fails to collect it. The batters run and the runs are added to the team total as extras — not to the batter's individual score.
Do byes count against the bowler in cricket?
No. Byes do not affect the bowler's figures (runs conceded, economy rate, or average). They are attributed to the wicketkeeper and recorded separately in the extras column.
What is the difference between a bye and a leg bye?
A bye occurs when the ball misses both bat and body. A leg bye occurs when the ball hits the batter's body (but not the bat) and they complete runs. Both are extras, but their conditions differ.
Can you get 4 byes in cricket?
Yes. If a delivery passes the wicketkeeper and reaches the boundary without being touched by a fielder, 4 byes are automatically awarded — the same as a boundary off the bat, but recorded as 4 extras (byes).