Extras in Cricket: Wides, No-Balls, Byes, Leg Byes, and Penalty Runs
Extras are runs scored without the bat — wides, no-balls, byes, leg byes, and penalty runs. This guide explains what each type of extra is, how it's scored, when it happens, and how extras affect match results and bowling figures.
Extras are runs added to a team's total that were not scored by the batsman hitting the ball with the bat. They come in five types: wides (ball bowled too wide for the batsman to play), no-balls (illegal delivery), byes (ball passes the batsman and keeper — runs scored running), leg byes (ball hits the body, not the bat — runs scored running), and penalty runs (5 runs for specific violations). Extras can be highly significant in close matches — a team that consistently bowls wides and no-balls is effectively donating run-scoring opportunities.
Wide Balls
A wide is any delivery too wide or too high for the batsman to play a normal cricket shot. Umpires call wides based on the lane the ball passes through and whether a reasonable batsman could have played the delivery from their normal stance. In Test cricket, umpires allow more deviation off the ideal line — a moderate wide is not called if the batsman could have reached the ball by moving slightly. In T20 cricket, strict wide calling is applied — any ball passing outside the return crease is typically called wide.
No-Balls and Their Consequences
A no-ball in limited-overs cricket (ODIs and T20s) results in a penalty run AND a free hit on the next delivery — meaning the next ball, the batsman cannot be dismissed except by run out. In Test cricket, the no-ball results only in a penalty run and an extra ball being bowled in the over. A no-ball can be called for: front foot overstepping the crease (most common), a full-pitch delivery above the waist, fielders in illegal positions, or the bowler's back foot touching the return crease.
Byes and Leg Byes
Byes are runs scored when the ball passes both the bat and the wicketkeeper — with the batsmen running or the ball reaching the boundary. These runs are charged against the wicketkeeper's record (bad byes reflect poorly on the keeper). Leg byes are runs scored when the ball hits the batsman's pad or body (not the bat or glove) and the batsmen run. Both byes and leg byes count in the team total but not in the batsman's individual score — and not in the bowler's figures. Penalty runs (5 for ball tampering, fielding encroachment, or other violations) are awarded to the opposing team.
Frequently asked questions
What are extras in cricket?
Extras are runs scored without the batsman hitting the ball with the bat. They include wides (too wide or high), no-balls (illegal delivery), byes (ball passes batsman and keeper), leg byes (ball hits batsman's body), and penalty runs (5 runs for violations by either team).
Do extras count in the bowler's figures?
No-balls and wides add runs to the bowler's figures (they are counted as runs against the bowler). Byes and leg byes are NOT charged against the bowler — they appear in the extras column. Penalty runs are not charged to any bowler.
What is the most extras in a Test innings?
Some Test innings have featured 70+ extras — particularly in matches involving less experienced bowling sides against strong batting teams. Extras are tracked separately in scorecards and can be as high as 50-80 in some Test innings. High bye totals particularly indicate wicketkeeping problems.