No-Balls, Wides, and Extras in Cricket: Rules and How They Are Scored
Extras (no-balls, wides, byes, and leg byes) can significantly affect a match's outcome. This guide explains exactly what each type of extra is, how it is awarded, and the rules around no-balls — including free hits in T20 cricket.
Extras are runs added to the batting team's total that don't come off the bat — they're awarded for bowling or fielding infractions. In a tight match, extras can swing the result: 20 extras in a T20 innings is equivalent to a free over of 20 runs. Understanding extras helps fans follow why certain deliveries generate bonus runs and why bowlers who concede extras are expensive even when they take wickets.
No-Ball
A no-ball is called when a bowler oversteps the crease (their back foot touches or lands behind the popping crease, but their front foot lands on or behind the batting crease line) — or bowls an illegal delivery (beamer, full toss above waist height). A no-ball adds one run to extras and the delivery must be rebowled. In T20 cricket (and some ODI competitions), a no-ball results in a free hit on the following delivery — the batsman cannot be dismissed off a free hit except by run out.
Wide Ball
A wide is called when the ball passes outside the reach of the batsman in their normal standing position — typically outside the off stump by a certain margin or down the leg side. A wide adds one run to extras and must be rebowled. In T20 cricket, wides are called more strictly — the umpire has a zero-tolerance approach to balls outside the tramline. Keeping the ball in the corridor and avoiding wides is one of the fundamentals of death bowling accuracy.
Byes and Leg Byes
Byes are runs scored when the ball passes the batsman, beats the wicketkeeper, and the batsmen run. The ball was neither hit by the bat nor did it hit the pad. Leg byes are runs scored when the ball hits the batsman's body or pad (not the bat) and the batsmen run. Leg byes require the batsman to have played a shot or tried to avoid the ball — if the batsman deliberately uses their body as a second bat, no leg byes are awarded.
Penalty Runs
Five penalty runs can be awarded for specific fielding offences — a fielder deliberately obstructing a batsman, using an object to stop the ball other than body or equipment, or an illegal fielding position. Penalty runs are rare but dramatic when they occur. They're added to the batting team's total as extras and don't affect the bowler's figures.
Frequently asked questions
What is a no-ball in cricket?
A no-ball occurs when a bowler oversteps the crease (front foot) or bowls an illegal delivery (like a beamer). It adds one run to extras, must be rebowled, and in T20 cricket triggers a free hit on the next delivery.
What is a free hit in cricket?
A free hit is awarded after a no-ball in T20 cricket (and some ODI formats). The batsman cannot be dismissed on a free hit except by run out — they can hit the ball freely without risk of being caught, bowled, LBW, or stumped.
What is the difference between byes and leg byes?
Byes are runs scored when the ball beats both bat and wicketkeeper without touching anything. Leg byes occur when the ball hits the batsman's body or pad (not the bat) and they run — these require the batsman to have played a shot.