Backing Up and Running Between Wickets in Cricket

Running between wickets is the art of converting played deliveries into runs through speed, awareness, and clear communication. It covers backing up (the non-striker leaving the crease before the ball is bowled), calling ('yes', 'no', or 'wait'), running hard and turning quickly, and the judgment to take a second run. Elite batting partnerships rate highly in conversion — the percentage of ones turned into twos and twos into potential threes.

Backing up

Backing up refers to the non-striker leaving their crease and moving down the pitch as the bowler delivers — shortening the distance needed to run a single. The non-striker should move when the bowler's hand comes over: too early risks being run out at the non-striker's end (a Mankad dismissal); too late removes the time advantage. Good backing up can convert a tight single into a comfortable one, or a run-out risk into a comfortable second run.

The call system

The batter who hits the ball calls: 'Yes' (run immediately), 'No' (do not run), or 'Wait' (assess then decide). The partner responds and both communicate loudly — hesitation or a changed call mid-run causes most run outs. The striker calls for shots hit in front of them (drives, cuts, pulls) because they can see the field. The non-striker calls for shots hit behind the striker (edges, deflections to the leg side) because the striker cannot turn to look.

Why it matters

Good running between wickets can add 15–20 runs per 100 balls without any boundary hits — purely by converting ones into twos and maintaining pressure on the fielding side. In Test cricket, accumulated singles and stolen runs across a session keep the scoreboard moving and tire the fielding side. In T20, quick singles in the middle overs can set up a platform for the final assault. Poor running — run outs, missed twos, timid singles — is one of the most preventable forms of lost value in batting.