Hit the Ball Twice in Cricket
What is 'hit ball twice' in cricket? When a batsman can legally hit the ball again, and when it becomes a mode of dismissal.
Hitting the ball twice is a mode of dismissal under Law 34 of the Laws of Cricket. A batsman is out if they deliberately hit the ball a second time, unless the only purpose is to prevent the ball from hitting the stumps.
When Hitting Twice Is Allowed
- The batsman may use the bat or any part of the body to stop the ball from hitting the stumps after the first contact — this is the only permitted reason for a second hit.
- The batsman may also use a second hit to return the ball to a fielder if the fielding side agrees.
When Hitting Twice Gets You Out
- Deliberately hitting the ball a second time to prevent a catch by a fielder.
- Hitting the ball twice to score runs off the second hit.
- Knocking the ball away to prevent a fielder completing a run out (this can also be obstruction).
How Rare Is This Dismissal?
Hit ball twice is one of the rarest dismissals in international cricket — there are almost no confirmed international examples. In club and school cricket it occasionally occurs when a batsman nervously hits the ball back toward fielders on a second contact. Most incidents are accidental and not given.
Frequently asked questions
Can you be run out if you hit the ball twice?
No — the ball is dead once the batsman deliberately hits it a second time. Run outs cannot occur after the ball is dead.
What if the ball hits the batsman twice (not intentionally)?
Accidental double contact is not 'hit ball twice' — the batsman must intentionally hit it. An accidental double tap is not a dismissal.