Cricket Extras Explained — Byes, Leg Byes, Wides, No-Balls & Penalties
A complete guide to cricket extras: what counts as a wide, no-ball, bye, leg bye, or penalty run — and how each type of extra is scored and recorded in the scorebook.
Extras are runs added to the batting team's total that are not credited to any individual batter. They represent an additional cost to the fielding team — typically caused by the bowler (wides, no-balls) or the wicketkeeper (byes). In close limited-overs matches, extras often determine the result: conceding 20 extras in a T20 match is the equivalent of giving away two overs of free runs.
Types of Extras
| Type | Cause | Recorded As | Over Count? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | Ball too wide/high for batter to hit | Extras: Wides | No — extra ball bowled |
| No-Ball | Bowler oversteps crease, illegal action, etc. | Extras: No-Balls | No — extra ball bowled |
| Bye | Ball passes bat and keeper; batter runs | Extras: Byes | Yes |
| Leg Bye | Ball hits batter's body; batter runs | Extras: Leg Byes | Yes |
| Penalty | Fielding team violates Laws | Extras: Penalties | Yes |
Wides
A wide is called when the ball is bowled so wide or high that the umpire judges it would not be within reach of a batter in their normal stance. One run is added to the batting team's extras and the ball is re-bowled. In T20 cricket, the wide rule is strictly enforced — any ball passing outside the return crease on the off side, or above shoulder height, is usually called wide. This is more lenient in Test cricket, where the umpire considers whether the batter could 'reasonably' have reached the ball.
No-Balls
A no-ball can be called for multiple reasons: the bowler's front foot landing over the crease (the most common), the ball bouncing more than twice before reaching the batter, the ball being delivered above waist height in the full, or the fielding team having too many fielders outside the 30-yard circle during a power play. The batter cannot be out from a no-ball (except via run out, handled the ball, obstructing the field, or hit wicket). In limited-overs cricket, the next ball is a 'free hit' — the batter cannot be dismissed (except via run out).
Byes and Leg Byes
Byes occur when the ball passes the bat without touching it or the batter, and the batter runs. They are recorded as extras and are considered a blemish on the wicketkeeper's record — good keepers concede very few byes. Leg byes are runs scored after the ball hits the batter's body (not the bat) and the batter runs. Leg byes are controversial: the umpire must judge whether the batter attempted to play the ball or to avoid being hit — leg byes are only legitimate if the batter genuinely tried to hit the ball.
Frequently asked questions
Do extras count towards a batter's score?
No — extras are added to the team's total but are not credited to any individual batter. If a team scores 180 and 20 of those runs are extras, the individual batter totals will only add up to 160.
What is a free hit in cricket?
A free hit follows a no-ball in limited-overs cricket. On the delivery after the no-ball, the batter cannot be dismissed by any method except a run out, hit wicket, or handling the ball. The field cannot change between the no-ball and the free hit. Free hits were introduced to penalise no-balls more severely and to give the batting team a significant reward.
Can a batter be out off a wide ball?
A batter can be run out off a wide ball — if they attempt a run and fail to make their ground while the fielding team breaks the stumps. Stumpings also apply off wide deliveries — if the keeper takes the wide and breaks the stumps while the batter is outside the crease.