The Leave in Cricket: When Not Playing a Delivery is the Right Shot
The leave — deliberately not playing at a delivery outside off stump — is one of the most important and underrated skills in Test match batting.
The leave — deliberately allowing a delivery to pass without playing at it — is one of the most important and frequently undervalued skills in Test match cricket. When a batter leaves a delivery outside off stump that is too wide to safely drive, they have: denied the bowler a chance to take a wicket, avoided the risk of an edge to the keeper or slips, and forced the bowler to bowl another delivery. In Test cricket, where a bowler's accuracy can be their primary weapon, a batter who consistently leaves well forces the bowler to try different lines or lengths — disrupting the bowler's plan.
What to Leave
The general principle of what to leave is: any delivery outside off stump that is rising above waist height and moving away from the body (away swing, cut seam). These deliveries — known as 'corridor of uncertainty' balls — are designed to tempt the batter into a drive or defensive push that may edge to the keeper or slips. The batter who recognises these deliveries early and leaves them confidently — standing tall, watching the ball pass, not flinching — denies the bowler their primary wicket-taking delivery. Leaving is most critical against new ball bowling when the ball is hard, swinging and seaming, and close catchers are in position.
Leaving Well vs Leaving Poorly
A good leave involves raising the bat high and clear of the ball — so there is no risk of an accidental edge — and watching the ball pass from a balanced, still stance. A poor leave involves playing half a shot at the ball before deciding not to play, which creates the risk of a glanced edge. Batters are taught to commit to the leave early: if leaving, raise the bat immediately as the ball's line and length are identified; if playing, commit to the shot. Half-measures — tentative prods that brush the ball — are more dangerous than a full shot or a confident leave.
Frequently asked questions
How do batters decide what to leave in cricket?
The leave decision is based on three factors: line (is the ball outside off stump?), length (is the ball short enough that playing is risky?), and movement (is the ball swinging or cutting away?). Batters practice the leave in nets by training their eye to identify the 'leave zone' — deliveries that fulfil all three criteria. The decision is made in approximately 150-200 milliseconds from the ball leaving the bowler's hand.
Can you be given out if you leave a delivery?
You can be given out LBW even on a leave if the ball hits the pad while you are not playing a shot — and the ball is on the stumps line. However, if the ball passes outside off stump and hits the pad, LBW cannot be given (ball pitching outside off). The safest leave technique lifts the bat high and clear of the body to eliminate any risk of an accidental catch or pad contact.
Is leaving the ball more important in Test cricket than in T20?
Yes, significantly. In T20 cricket, the leave is rarely used strategically — batters are under pressure to score at a high rate, and leaving balls costs valuable deliveries. In Test cricket, there is no scoring-rate pressure within an over, and the value of denying the bowler wicket opportunities across a full day's play justifies leaving a high proportion of outside-off deliveries. The leave is a Test cricket skill above all others.