Dead Ball in Cricket

A dead ball in cricket is a ball that is no longer in play — once a ball is declared dead, no runs can be scored, no wickets can fall, and no run outs can occur. Understanding when the ball is dead is essential for knowing when play has genuinely stopped.

When the Ball Is Automatically Dead

• The ball is lodged in a player's clothing or equipment.
• A player (or spectator) enters the field without permission.
• The umpire calls 'dead ball' due to a head injury or serious incident on the field.
• The ball strikes a helmet placed on the field by the fielding side — five penalty runs to the batting team.
• The batting team reaches the target — the ball becomes dead immediately.

When the Umpire Calls Dead Ball

• An unforeseen event on the field that makes play impossible.
• The bowler runs out the non-striker (Mankad) — ball becomes dead at the moment of the appeal.
• A player is injured and must leave the field immediately.
• A lost ball is called.

What Cannot Happen When the Ball Is Dead

• No runs can be scored (except penalty runs already established).
• No wickets can fall.
• No run outs or stumpings can be effected.
• Batsmen cannot cross for a run.

Ball Coming to Rest

The ball does not become dead when it simply comes to rest in the outfield — fielders must still retrieve it and batsmen can still run. It becomes dead once the fielder has the ball under control and the umpire is satisfied that both sets of batsmen have completed the runs they intended, or once a run out or stumping has been completed.