Dead Ball in Cricket: When Play Is Suspended
What 'dead ball' means in cricket, when the ball becomes dead, and what can and cannot happen while the ball is dead — including dismissals, runs, and appeals.
In cricket, 'the ball is dead' means no runs can be scored, no dismissals can occur, and no other playing action is live. Once the ball is dead, a new delivery begins. Understanding when the ball becomes dead is important for understanding run-outs at the end of overs, appeals after the ball has passed the wicketkeeper, and other edge cases.
When the Ball Becomes Dead (Automatically)
- When the ball comes to rest in the outfield and neither batter is attempting a run
- When the ball reaches the boundary (four or six is signalled)
- When a batter is dismissed (wicket falls)
- When the umpire signals the end of play (over, interval, close of play)
- When the ball lodges in the batter's clothing or equipment
- When a lost ball is called
When Umpires Call Dead Ball
Umpires can call dead ball themselves in various situations: when an external disturbance occurs (crowd invasion, a bird landing on the pitch), when a batter is distracted by something other than the bowling team's actions, or to prevent injustice from a technical incident. Once an umpire calls dead ball, the delivery is not counted and the ball must be re-bowled.
What Cannot Happen When Ball Is Dead
No dismissal can occur once the ball is dead (with the exception of a batter being out handled the ball or obstructing, which can be appealed at any time before the next delivery). Runs cannot be scored after the ball is dead. An appeal for a dismissal (caught, LBW, etc.) cannot be made once the umpire has called dead ball.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'dead ball' mean in cricket?
When the ball is 'dead', no runs can be scored, no dismissals can occur, and no other playing action is live. The ball automatically becomes dead when it reaches the boundary, a wicket falls, or it comes to rest. Umpires can also call dead ball to prevent injustice or when an external disturbance occurs.
Can a batter be run out after the ball is dead?
No — once the ball is dead, no further dismissals can occur (with narrow exceptions). However, if the ball is still live (active) when the bails are broken, the run-out stands even if the fielding team believed the ball was dead. The key is whether the umpire has actually called dead ball.
Can an umpire call dead ball at any time?
Umpires can call dead ball to prevent injustice — for instance, if a distraction affected the delivery, if a batter was not ready, or if an unexpected event disrupted the delivery. However, calling dead ball after a wicket has already fallen does not reverse the dismissal.