Extras in Cricket: Wides, No-Balls, Byes, and Leg Byes
Extras are runs awarded to the batting team that do not come from the bat. Learn about each type of extra — wide, no-ball, bye, and leg bye — and how they are recorded in the scorecard.
What Are Extras?
Extras are runs added to the batting team's total that are not credited to any individual batter. They are awarded for bowling errors (wides and no-balls) or fielding failures (byes and leg byes). Extras appear in the scorecard separate from individual batter totals.
Types of Extras
| Extra Type | Cause | Charged To |
|---|---|---|
| Wide | Ball bowled too far from batter to hit | Bowler's figures |
| No-ball | Illegal delivery (foot fault, dangerous, etc.) | Bowler's figures |
| Bye | Ball passes the batter and keeper — no contact | Neither bowler nor batter |
| Leg bye | Ball hits the batter's body (not bat) — runs taken | Neither bowler nor batter |
| Penalty runs | Fielding side commits a Law violation | Fielding team |
Wides and No-Balls
Wides and no-balls each add one run to the batting team's total automatically (the penalty run) plus any runs actually run. They also result in a free extra delivery — the over is not complete until a legal delivery is bowled. A no-ball also prevents the batter from being dismissed on most modes of dismissal.
Frequently asked questions
Do extras count toward a batter's score?
No. Extras are added to the team total but do not appear in individual batter scorecards. A batter's runs include only what they score by hitting the ball (or running between wickets off a hit).
Can a wide be a wicket?
No. A batter cannot be dismissed off a wide delivery — wides cannot produce bowled, LBW, or caught-behind dismissals. The only exceptions are run-out and stumping off a wide.