LBW in Cricket Explained — Leg Before Wicket
Everything you need to know about LBW in cricket: the five conditions for LBW out, how the umpire decides, what DRS ball-tracking checks, and what 'Umpire's Call' means for LBW decisions.
What is LBW?
LBW stands for Leg Before Wicket — a mode of dismissal in cricket where the ball strikes the batter's body (most commonly the pad/leg) instead of the bat, and the umpire judges the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps. If not for the batter's body, the ball would have taken the wicket. LBW was introduced into the Laws of Cricket to prevent batters from simply using their body to block the stumps without playing a shot.
The five conditions for LBW
All five conditions must be satisfied for an LBW dismissal under Law 36: (1) The delivery must not be a no-ball. (2) The ball must not have hit the bat (or the hand holding the bat) first. (3) The ball must have pitched on a line between wicket and wicket — or outside the off stump. A ball pitching outside leg stump cannot result in LBW, regardless of where it hits the batter or which way it would have gone. (4) The impact (where the ball hits the pad) must be on a line between wicket and wicket. A ball hitting outside the off stump line at the point of impact does not result in LBW. (5) The ball, had it not hit the pad, must have gone on to hit the stumps. The umpire judges this from the line and trajectory of the delivery.
Playing a shot and LBW
If a batter plays a shot (offers a stroke at the ball), and the ball hits their pad, they can only be given out LBW if the impact is on a line between wicket and wicket AND the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps. But if a batter plays no shot (decides not to play and simply pads up), the 'outside off stump' protection for impact is removed. A batter who plays no shot and is hit on the pad outside off stump can be given LBW — provided the ball would have hit the stumps.
LBW and DRS
DRS ball-tracking (Hawk-Eye) has transformed LBW decisions. The system models the delivery's trajectory after impact with the pad and projects where the ball would have gone. If the model projects the ball hitting the stumps centrally, it is Out. If it projects missing, Not Out. If it projects hitting the stumps but only clipping the edge — within the margin of ball-tracking uncertainty — the decision is 'Umpire's Call' and the on-field decision stands. LBW appeals are the most reviewed decisions in cricket, accounting for the majority of DRS reviews in all formats.
Frequently asked questions
Can you be LBW if the ball pitches outside leg stump?
No. A ball that pitches outside the leg stump cannot result in an LBW dismissal, regardless of which way it turns or where it hits the batter. This is an absolute rule — even if the ball turns sharply to hit the stumps, if it pitched outside leg stump, not out.
Can you be LBW if you hit the ball with the bat first?
No. If the ball makes contact with the bat (or the hand holding the bat) before hitting the pad, LBW cannot be given. This is why catching nicks after the ball has already struck the pad are always not out — the bat contact came last.
What does 'hitting the ball outside off stump' mean for LBW?
If the impact (where the ball hits the batter's pad) is outside the line of off stump, and the batter plays a shot, they cannot be given LBW — even if the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps. However, if they play no shot, the outside-off protection is removed and they can be given LBW.