Overthrows in Cricket: How They Are Scored
An overthrow occurs when a fielder attempts to run out a batsman but the ball travels past the stumps and continues into the outfield, allowing the batting side to take additional runs. Overthrows can be disastrously expensive — the 2019 Cricket World Cup final between England and New Zealand featured a deflection off Ben Stokes that contributed six crucial runs and became one of the most controversial moments in cricket history.
What is an overthrow? An overthrow occurs when a fielder throws the ball at either end of the wicket — attempting a run-out — but the throw misses the stumps (or hits the stumps but continues past) and travels into the outfield or to the boundary. The batting team can then run additional runs during the time the ball travels from the stumps to the fielder or boundary. Why overthrows happen: (1) inaccurate throws at the stumps, (2) the ball deflecting off the stumps and running into the field, (3) a wicketkeeper or fielder failing to stop a fast throw. Overthrows are a significant risk in limited-overs cricket when fielders throw hard at the stumps under pressure — the chance of missing is high. How overthrows are scored: the total runs scored on a delivery with overthrows includes the runs completed by the batsmen before the throw was made, plus the runs completed (or boundary reached) after the throw. Example: batsmen complete 2 runs and then a wild throw goes to the boundary — total = 2 (run) + 4 (boundary overthrow) = 6 runs from the delivery.
The 2019 World Cup Final Controversy
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup Final (England vs New Zealand, Lord's, July 14, 2019) featured one of the most contentious and consequential overthrow decisions in cricket history. The incident: in the final over, England needed 9 runs off 3 balls to win. Ben Stokes hit a delivery from Trent Boult to deep midwicket and ran 2. Stokes dived and the throw from Martin Guptill hit his outstretched bat and deflected to the boundary. The umpires awarded 6 runs total (2 runs completed + 4 overthrow boundary). How England ran the total: England needed 9 off 3 balls; the 6-run overthrow reduced the requirement to 3 off 2 balls. England subsequently tied the match and went on to win the World Cup via a Super Over (and then on boundary count). The controversy: Law 19.8 of cricket states that overthrow runs are credited from the moment the throw was made — the runs completed at the time of the throw count, plus any subsequent overthrow runs. However, many argued that the umpires incorrectly counted the runs: at the exact moment Guptill released the throw, the two batsmen (Stokes and Adil Rashid) had not yet completed their second run — they were still mid-pitch. According to Law 19.8, the correct award should have been 5 runs (1 completed run + 4 overthrow boundary), not 6.
Types of Overthrows
Direct hit overthrow: a fielder throws directly at the stumps and the ball misses or deflects past, traveling to the far boundary or the outfield. This is the most common type of expensive overthrow. Relay throw overthrow: a fielder in the outfield throws to a second fielder who is relaying the ball to the wicketkeeper; the second fielder fumbles or overthrows and the ball reaches the boundary. Missed return: the wicketkeeper or an end fielder fails to stop a firm throw and the ball runs away. How overthrows become boundaries: if an overthrow reaches the boundary rope (4 runs) or is hit over the boundary on the fly (extremely rare — 6 runs), the full boundary value is added to any runs completed. Batsmen do not need to keep running while the overthrow travels — if the ball reaches the boundary, the 4 (or 6) is automatic. Overthrow frequency: in high-stakes T20 and ODI matches, direct-hit attempts at the stumps result in misses approximately 60-70% of the time — fielding a throw at the stumps under pressure is one of the hardest skills in fielding. This is why cricket's best throwing fielders (Jonty Rhodes, Ricky Ponting, AB de Villiers) are so highly valued.
Overthrow prevention and fielding tactics: captains and coaches must weigh the risk of direct-hit throw attempts vs the sure option of returning to the wicketkeeper. When a batsman is well inside their crease, a direct hit is usually not worth attempting — the probability of a miss (and expensive overthrow) outweighs the near-zero run-out probability. When a batsman is genuinely short of the crease, the direct hit is the correct tactical choice. Training to reduce overthrows: fielding drills focus on building accuracy on direct hit throws at the stumps under fatigue and pressure. The technique — running in, planting the left foot, and throwing side-on at the stumps from 20-30 metres — is practised thousands of times. Overthrows in Test cricket: overthrows are rarer but still consequential in Tests — a boundary overthrow in a tight finish can shift the balance decisively.
Frequently asked questions
What is an overthrow in cricket?
An overthrow occurs when a fielder throws the ball at the stumps for a run-out but misses, and the ball continues into the outfield or reaches the boundary. The batting team scores additional runs from the overthrow.
How many runs were scored from the Ben Stokes overthrow in the 2019 World Cup Final?
The umpires awarded 6 runs (2 completed runs + 4 overthrow boundary). MCC later confirmed the correct award should have been 5 runs under Law 19.8, as only 1 run had been completed at the moment of Guptill's throw.
How are overthrow runs calculated?
Overthrow runs = runs completed by batsmen at the moment of the throw + runs scored (or boundary) from the overthrow itself. If the overthrow reaches the boundary, the full 4-run boundary is added regardless of where the batsmen are.
What law governs overthrows in cricket?
Law 19.8 of the Laws of Cricket (maintained by MCC) governs overthrow boundaries. It specifies that only runs completed at the moment of the throw count, plus the overthrow boundary — not runs that were still being run at the moment of the throw.