Extras in Cricket: Wides, No-Balls, Byes, Leg Byes and Penalty Runs
Extras are runs added to a team's total that are not scored off the bat — understanding each type helps batters, fielders, and fans follow the game accurately.
Extras are runs added to the batting team's total that do not come from the bat making contact with the ball. They fall into five categories under the Laws of Cricket: wides, no-balls, byes, leg byes, and penalty runs. Each type is credited differently and appears on the scorecard as a separate line.
Bowler-Charged Extras
Wides and no-balls are charged to the bowler's figures. A wide is called when the ball passes the batter outside the wide markers; a no-ball covers foot faults, dangerous deliveries, and certain fielding infringements. Both cost at least one run and — crucially — the delivery must be re-bowled, effectively giving the batting side a free ball.
Fielding Side Extras
Byes and leg byes are not charged to the bowler. Byes are conceded when the ball passes the striker without touching the bat or body and runs are completed. Leg byes occur when the ball hits the batter's body (not the bat) and runs are taken, provided the batter made a genuine attempt to play the ball or to avoid it.
Extras on the Scorecard
At the end of an innings, extras are listed on the scorecard as a single subtotal broken down by type. In close matches, extras can be the difference between victory and defeat — a batting side can score 20 or more extras from sloppy bowling and fielding.
Frequently asked questions
Are byes charged to the bowler?
No. Byes are charged to the fielding side, not the bowler. They appear as extras in the team total but do not affect the bowler's runs conceded or economy rate.
What is the difference between a bye and a leg bye?
A bye is scored when the ball misses both the bat and the body and runs are completed. A leg bye is scored when the ball hits the batter's body (not the bat) and runs are taken.