Run Out in Cricket: How It Works, Backing Up, and Famous Run Outs
A run out dismissal occurs when a fielding side breaks the wicket (hits the stumps with the ball) while the batsman is out of their ground (behind the popping crease) during an attempted run. Run outs are the only dismissal that does not require a bowler's action — it is entirely fielding-side driven. Famous run outs have decided match outcomes at the highest level, including the 1999 World Cup semi-final run out of Herschelle Gibbs.
Run out definition: Law 38 of cricket governs run outs. A batsman is run out when at any time while the ball is in play: the wicket is broken by the fielding side (stumps hit with the ball, or with the hand/arm holding the ball) and the batsman is out of their ground (their bat or body is not grounded behind the popping crease). Run outs apply to both batsmen — either the striker (who hit the ball) or the non-striker (who was backing up from the other end) can be run out if they fail to complete the run before the wicket is broken at their respective end.
Direct Hit vs Caught Behind
Direct hit run out: a direct hit occurs when a fielder picks up the ball and throws it directly at the stumps — the ball contacts the stumps without touching another player or the ground between the fielder's throw and the stumps. Direct hits that result in run outs are among the most dramatic fielding moments in cricket — the margin between safe and out is typically millimetres of bat position or fractions of a second in timing. The ball must actually break the wicket (dislodge at least one bail, or if both bails are already off, strike the stumps directly) for the run out to be awarded. A throw that hits the stumps without dislodging a bail, if both bails are still on, does NOT result in a run out.
Run Out vs Stumping
Run out vs stumping: both dismissals involve the wicket being broken while the batsman is out of their ground, but they are fundamentally different. A stumping occurs: when the wicketkeeper receives the ball directly from the bowler (not deflected by a fielder) and breaks the wicket while the batsman is out of their ground having played (or attempted to play) a shot with their foot behind the crease, or not having attempted a shot but having gone down the pitch. A run out can be effected by any fielder, including the wicketkeeper. A stumping specifically requires the wicketkeeper and specifically requires the ball to come directly from the bowler. If the wicketkeeper catches the ball after it bounces (from a stumping attempt where the batsman is stranded down the pitch) and then runs to break the stumps, it is a run out, not a stumping.
Backing Up and Non-Striker Run Out
Non-striker backing up: the non-striker batsman stands at the bowler's end while their partner is batting. Before the ball is bowled, the non-striker typically walks a step or two toward the striker's end (backing up) to gain a head start on the run if the striker hits the ball. Law 41.16 governs the non-striker leaving their crease early — a bowler can run out the non-striker who has left their crease before the ball is bowled (the Mankad dismissal, now officially called 'running out the non-striker'). This dismissal was the subject of significant controversy when Deepti Sharma (India women) ran out Charlotte Dean (England) in September 2022 — a legal dismissal that sparked global debate about the spirit of cricket. The MCC confirmed in 2022 that such run outs are not against the spirit of cricket — they were moved from the 'Unfair play' section to the standard 'Fielding side run outs' section of the Laws.
Frequently asked questions
What is a run out in cricket?
A run out in cricket occurs when the fielding side breaks the wicket (dislodges the bails by hitting the stumps with the ball, or with the ball in hand) while a batsman is out of their ground (not grounded behind the popping crease) during an attempted run. Run outs can dismiss either the striker (who hit the ball) or the non-striker (who is backing up from the bowler's end), depending on which batsman fails to reach their crease before the wicket is broken at that end. Law 38 governs run outs. There is no contribution from the bowler — the run out credit goes to the fielder who broke the wicket. A batsman is also out if they venture out of their crease and the wicket is broken by any means during the ball's play.
What is the difference between a run out and a stumping?
A run out and a stumping both involve breaking the wicket while the batsman is out of their ground, but they differ in how they occur: A run out (Law 38) can be effected by any fielder (including the wicketkeeper) at any time during a running attempt. A stumping (Law 39) specifically requires the wicketkeeper to receive the ball directly from the bowler (not from a fielder or after it bounces from a stumping attempt on the pitch) and then break the wicket while the batsman is out of their ground having played or played at (missed) the ball. If a batsman runs down the pitch to play a big shot, misses, and the wicketkeeper catches the ball and breaks the stumps — that is a stumping (the ball came directly from the bowler to the keeper). If a fielder picks up a ball and runs a batsman out — that is always a run out regardless of who effects it.
Can a batsman be run out for backing up too far?
Yes. The non-striker batsman can be run out for leaving their crease before the ball is bowled — this is called 'running out the non-striker' and was historically known as the 'Mankad' dismissal. Under Law 41.16, a bowler can legally break the stumps at the non-striker's end before delivering the ball if the non-striker has left their crease early. This dismissal became official MCC guidance in 2022, when it was moved out of the 'Unfair play' section of the Laws and placed in the standard fielding section — confirming it is fully legal and not against the spirit of cricket. The dismissal became prominent again when Deepti Sharma of India ran out Charlotte Dean of England in an ODI in September 2022 — a legal dismissal that the MCC formally supported.