LBW in Cricket: The Complete Law Explained
A thorough guide to the LBW law — what counts, what does not, how the umpire decides, and what DRS changed about leg-before-wicket decisions.
The Basic LBW Requirement
For an LBW dismissal, three conditions must be met: the ball must pitch in line with the stumps or on the off side (not outside leg stump); the ball must hit the batter's body in line between the stumps; and the ball must be going on to hit the stumps. If any condition fails, the batter cannot be out LBW.
The Outside Off Stump Exception
If the ball pitches outside off stump but hits the pad in line with the stumps and would have hit the stumps, the batter can still be given out — provided they did not attempt a shot. This is the no-shot-offered rule. If they do play a shot and the ball hits their pad outside the line of off stump, they cannot be out LBW.
Outside Leg Stump: Always Not Out
If the ball pitches outside leg stump — even if it would have gone on to hit the stumps — the batter cannot be out LBW. This is a firm rule with no exceptions. The law was designed to prevent batters from being penalised for playing to leg, which is a legitimate defensive and scoring option.
DRS and the Umpire's Call Zone
DRS introduced ball-tracking technology that predicts the ball's trajectory. The Umpire's Call zone — a portion of the stumps where a decision could reasonably go either way — means that on review, if the ball is only clipping the stumps within this margin, the original umpire's decision stands regardless of which way the technology leans.
Frequently asked questions
Can a batter be out LBW to a no-ball?
No. A batter cannot be dismissed LBW off a no-ball delivery. Even if all the normal LBW conditions are met, the no-ball nullifies the dismissal. The batting team receives one penalty run and the next ball is a free hit in limited-overs cricket.
What does 'plumb LBW' mean?
Plumb LBW is an informal term for an LBW dismissal that is unambiguously out — the ball hits the pad directly in front of middle stump, pitching in line, clearly going to hit the stumps. It contrasts with close decisions where the ball may have been clipping the outside edge of the stumps.