LBW in Cricket — Law 36 Explained Completely
A complete guide to the LBW (Leg Before Wicket) law in cricket: all five conditions required for an LBW dismissal, how DRS changed LBW decisions, and the most debated LBW cases in cricket history.
LBW (Leg Before Wicket) is one of cricket's most complex dismissal types, governed by Law 36 of the Laws of Cricket. An LBW dismissal requires the umpire to resolve multiple conditions simultaneously — making it the most frequently reviewed decision in DRS. Understanding LBW fully explains both cricket's complexity and the role technology has played in reducing umpiring errors.
The Five LBW Conditions
For an LBW appeal to succeed, ALL of the following must apply:
- Legal delivery: the delivery must not be a no-ball
- Ball pitches in line: the ball must pitch either in line with the stumps (between off and leg) or on the off side (never on the leg side of leg stump)
- Impact in line: the ball must hit the batsman's body in line with the stumps (between off and leg at the point of impact) — OR the batsman must not have offered a shot to a ball hitting outside the off stump
- Going on to hit: ball-tracking must show the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps if the pad had not intervened
- Ball hits below knee roll height: the impact must be below knee roll height at the point the ball would have reached the stumps (not often directly assessed but implied in Law 36)
The Offering-a-Shot Rule
One of LBW's most misunderstood elements is the 'offering a shot' condition. If a batsman does NOT play a shot at a delivery that strikes them outside the line of off stump, they CAN be given out LBW even though the ball struck outside off. However, if they DO offer a shot, the ball must have struck them in line with the stumps (between off and leg) for LBW to apply.
LBW Scenario — Outside Off, No Shot Offered
Bowler swings ball back in, strikes batsman on the pad outside off stump. Batsman made no attempt to play the ball. Ball-tracking shows it would have hit middle stump. → OUT. The 'no shot offered' rule means the usual 'must be in line' condition is overridden.
LBW and DRS — Umpire's Call
DRS's Hawk-Eye ball-tracking is most important for LBW reviews. The system checks: pitching point (in line?), impact point (in line?), and projected trajectory (hitting stumps?). Each of these has an 'Umpire's Call' margin — if the ball is within the margin, the original on-field decision stands (even if the replays show the ball would likely have hit the stumps). This Umpire's Call feature is the most debated aspect of DRS.
Covering the Stumps — Batting Strategy
LBW law directly shapes batting technique. Batters must either play the ball with the bat (removing the pads from the line of the stumps) or position themselves in such a way that the pad is outside the line. 'Padding up' to balls — deliberately using the pads rather than the bat — is high-risk: if the ball was going on to hit the stumps, it's out. Batters who 'walk across the stumps' and have their legs covering the stumps are particularly LBW-vulnerable.
Frequently asked questions
What does LBW stand for in cricket?
LBW stands for Leg Before Wicket — the dismissal where the ball strikes the batsman's body (typically the pad/leg) and would have gone on to hit the stumps if the pad had not been in the way.
Can you be LBW if the ball pitches outside leg stump?
No. If the ball pitches outside leg stump, an LBW appeal cannot succeed — this is an absolute condition under Law 36. This is different from off stump, where conditions apply.
Can you be LBW off a bouncer?
No. A bouncer that rises above the stumps' height by the time it reaches the batsman cannot result in an LBW dismissal, because ball-tracking would show it passing over the stumps.