All 10 Ways to Get Out in Cricket: Complete Guide to Dismissal Methods
Every method of dismissal in cricket explained — bowled, caught, leg before wicket, run out, stumped, hit the ball twice, hit wicket, obstructing the field, timed out, and handling the ball (now merged into obstruction) — with the Laws reference for each, how frequently each dismissal type occurs statistically, and which are most and least common in modern cricket.
The Common Dismissal Methods
Cricket's Laws recognise 10 methods of dismissal, of which five account for approximately 95% of all dismissals in professional cricket. The five common dismissals: (1) Bowled (Law 32) — the ball delivered by the bowler hits the batsman's wicket and dislodges a bail, regardless of whether the batsman touched the ball. The bowler receives credit for the wicket. (2) Caught (Law 33) — the ball is caught by a fielder (including the wicket-keeper) after hitting the bat or the batsman's gloves, without touching the ground. The bowler receives credit; the catcher's name appears in the scorecard. (3) Leg before wicket (Law 36) — the ball strikes the batsman's body (typically the pads) when it would have hit the stumps, without hitting the bat first, subject to various conditions. Bowler receives credit. (4) Run out (Law 38) — the batsman is out of the crease while attempting (or having completed) a run and the fielding side breaks the wicket. No bowler credit; the dismissal is run out in the scorecard. (5) Stumped (Law 39) — the wicket-keeper breaks the wicket with the ball while the batsman is out of the crease but not attempting a run, having received the ball directly from the bowler.
The Rare Dismissal Methods
The five less common dismissal methods, in descending order of frequency: (6) Hit wicket (Law 35) — the batsman dislodges their own wicket with their bat or body while playing a shot or setting off for a run. Extremely rare (less than 0.1% of dismissals in professional cricket). The bowler receives credit. (7) Hit the ball twice (Law 34) — the batsman deliberately strikes the ball a second time with their bat, other than to protect their wicket. Almost never occurs. (8) Obstructing the field (Law 37) — the batsman intentionally impedes a fielder attempting to field or run them out. Extremely rare; no bowler credit. (9) Timed out (Law 40) — an incoming batsman fails to arrive at the crease within 3 minutes of the previous batsman's dismissal. Has occurred in professional cricket but is extremely unusual. (10) Handled the ball — this was previously a separate dismissal (Law 33, old numbering) but was merged into 'obstructing the field' in the 2017 Laws revision.
Statistical Frequency of Dismissal Types
Research on Test cricket dismissal data from 2000-2024 shows the following approximate frequency breakdown: Caught — approximately 52-55% of all dismissals. Bowled — approximately 18-20%. LBW — approximately 15-17%. Run out — approximately 5-7%. Stumped — approximately 2-3%. Hit wicket — less than 0.1%. Obstructing the field/Hit the ball twice/Timed out — statistically negligible across all of modern professional cricket. The dominance of 'caught' reflects both the frequency of edges and the skill of catching positions in professional cricket — more than half of all Test wickets end with the ball taken by a fielder before it hits the ground.
In T20 cricket, the caught percentage is even higher — approaching 60-65% of all dismissals — because the more aggressive batting style (playing more away from the body, attacking more deliveries) produces more edges and aerial shots that carry to fielders. Run-out rates are also higher in T20 cricket because more aggressive running between wickets creates more dismissal opportunities. Stumped rates are somewhat lower in T20 cricket than in Tests — spinners are bowled more in powerplay-protective roles rather than the deep-spell bowling that generates stumping opportunities.
Frequently asked questions
Can a batsman be out 'retired' in cricket?
Retiring from the crease is not an official dismissal type — it is a separate category. A batsman can 'retire hurt' (leave the field due to injury with the batting order allowed to continue; they may return later if health permits) or 'retire out' (voluntarily retire, which counts as a dismissal — 'retired out' appears on the scorecard and the batsman cannot return in the same innings). In T20 franchise cricket, 'retired out' is sometimes used strategically to change the batting order for specific situations — deploying a specialist death hitter in place of a set batsman who is batting slowly. 'Retired out' counts toward the team's wickets tally.
What is the most common way to be dismissed for zero in Test cricket?
Batsmen dismissed for zero (a 'duck') in Test cricket are most commonly dismissed bowled or caught, with LBW third. The 'golden duck' (dismissed on the first ball faced) is most commonly bowled — facing a first delivery from a fresh new ball that moves late and hits the stumps. The 'pair' (dismissed for zero in both innings of a Test) is particularly damaging to a batsman's average and reputation. The most common golden duck delivery type in Test cricket is a full, swinging delivery aimed at the stumps — the first-ball delivery that has generated the most golden ducks across the history of the game.
Is the batsman out if the ball hits the stumps but a bail doesn't fall?
No — for a bowled, hit wicket, run out, or stumped dismissal, a bail must be dislodged from the stumps. If the ball hits a stump but leaves both bails on the stumps (an extremely rare occurrence), the batsman is not out. The Laws require the 'wicket to be put down' — which requires a bail to be completely removed from the top of the stumps. If no bail falls, no dismissal is possible through the stump-breaking mechanism. This scenario occasionally occurs on fresh pitches with well-set stumps that grip the bails tightly — the ball striking the stump causes the stump to rock but the bail is held in place by friction.