Penalty Runs in Cricket
What are penalty runs in cricket? The five-run penalty, when it is awarded, and how it affects the scoreboard.
Penalty runs are five runs awarded to one side due to an illegal act by the opposition. Under Law 41 of the Laws of Cricket, a range of offences by either the fielding team or the batting team can result in five penalty runs being added to the opposing team's score.
When Penalty Runs Are Awarded (to batting team)
- The ball hits a fielder's helmet placed on the ground (Law 28.3.1).
- Ball tampering is detected (Law 41.3).
- Deliberate time-wasting by the fielding side (Law 41.9).
- A fielder deliberately distracts a batsman (Law 41.4).
- An unfair fielder returns to the field (Law 24.1).
When Penalty Runs Are Awarded (to fielding team)
- Deliberate distraction of a fielder by a batsman while running (Law 41.14).
- Wilfully wasting time by the batting team (Law 41.10).
- Deliberate misuse of the bat or body to manipulate fielding opportunities.
How Penalty Runs Appear on the Scorecard
Penalty runs are recorded as extras — they are added to the extras column for the appropriate innings. They are not credited to any bowler's figures (if awarded against the fielding side) or to the batsman's personal score.
Frequently asked questions
Can more than five penalty runs be awarded at once?
No — the Laws specify five penalty runs per offence. Multiple offences can result in multiple sets of five penalty runs, but each offence is treated individually.
Does the ball have to be dead for penalty runs to be awarded?
Not always. Ball-stopping-helmet penalty runs are awarded immediately. For others, the umpire waits until the ball is dead before signalling and awarding the runs.