LBW in Cricket: The Complete Guide to Leg Before Wicket
The full LBW rule in cricket — what makes a batter out LBW, the umpire's six tests, inside edge exceptions, DRS reviews, and the most common LBW dismissals.
What Is LBW?
LBW — Leg Before Wicket — is a dismissal in cricket where the batter is given out because a delivery that would have hit the stumps is intercepted by any part of the batter's body other than their hand holding the bat. The most common LBW scenario is the ball hitting the pad (leg guard). LBW is one of the most complicated dismissal types in cricket, requiring the umpire to satisfy several conditions simultaneously.
The Six Tests for LBW
For an LBW decision to be out, the umpire applies six sequential tests: (1) Was the ball a legitimate delivery (not a no-ball or wide)? (2) Did the ball hit the batter's body and not the bat or hand holding the bat first? (3) Did the ball pitch outside leg stump? (If yes → not out.) (4) Was the point of impact outside off stump and the batter playing a shot? (If both yes → not out.) (5) Was the ball hitting the stumps? (If no → not out.) (6) Was the impact outside the line of off stump? If the batter plays no shot, this still doesn't prevent an out decision. All must be satisfied.
Pitching Outside Leg Stump
One crucial LBW rule: if the ball pitches outside leg stump, the batter cannot be given out LBW regardless of what happens next. This rule exists to protect batters from dismissals off deliveries that pitch so far down the leg side that the batter has no opportunity to play a shot to the ball. Inswing and leg-spin bowlers must be careful not to pitch too straight, as they risk going down leg.
Impact Outside Off Stump
If the ball hits the batter's pad outside the line of off stump and the batter was playing a shot, the batter cannot be given out LBW — even if the ball was heading straight to hit the stumps. This rule rewards batting strokeplay and prevents batters from being given out for leaving deliveries that are heading well wide of the stumps. If the batter plays no shot, the outside-off-stump protection does not apply.
DRS and LBW Reviews
The Decision Review System (DRS) has transformed LBW decisions in international cricket. Ball-tracking technology shows the projected path of the ball after impact — predicting whether it would have hit the stumps. DRS uses an 'umpire's call' zone around the stumps: if the ball is only partially hitting the stumps (clipping the edge of bail height or stump edge), the on-field umpire's decision stands rather than being overturned. This means that even with technology, close LBW calls often hinge on the original umpire's read.
Frequently asked questions
Can you be out LBW if the ball pitches outside leg stump?
No — if the ball pitches outside leg stump, a batter cannot be given out LBW under any circumstances, regardless of where it hits the pad or where it was heading.
What is umpire's call in DRS for LBW?
When DRS ball-tracking shows the ball only partially hitting the stumps (within a set margin), umpire's call applies — meaning the on-field decision (out or not out) is upheld rather than reversed, even if technology suggests the ball might have hit the stumps.
Can a batter be out LBW playing a shot?
Yes, but only if the pad is hit in line with the stumps (between off and leg stump). If the impact is outside off stump while the batter is playing a shot, the batter cannot be given out LBW.