Run Out in Cricket — Rules, Appeals and Famous Dismissals
Everything about run outs in cricket — what Law 38 says, when a batter is out, how the crease works, the role of the TV umpire, and memorable run outs in history.
A run out occurs when a fielder breaks the wicket with the ball while a batter is out of their crease (i.e. running between the wickets or attempting to make their ground). It is governed by Law 38 of the Laws of Cricket and is one of the most dramatic modes of dismissal, often decided by millimetres.
The Conditions for a Run Out
A batter is run out if: (1) the ball is in play, (2) the wicket is put down by a fielder (including the wicketkeeper), and (3) the batter is out of their crease when the wicket falls. 'In their crease' means some part of the bat or body is grounded behind the popping crease — the line 4 feet in front of the stumps. The batter must ground the bat in the crease, not just have it airborne above it.
TV Umpire and DRS for Run Outs
Most run out decisions at international level are referred to the third umpire (TV umpire) regardless of whether a team reviews. The TV umpire uses multiple camera angles including ultra-close-up super slow-motion frames to determine: (a) whether the bat is grounded at the moment the wicket is broken, and (b) whether the wicket was broken by the ball (directly or via the fielder's hand). The third umpire's decision is final for run outs.
Run Out vs Stumping
A stumping and a run out are both forms of dismissal involving the wicketkeeper breaking the wicket, but they are distinct modes. A stumping requires the batter to leave their crease while receiving a delivery — it credits the wicketkeeper with the dismissal. A run out occurs during a run and can be affected by any fielder (including the wicketkeeper). The key distinction: if the wicketkeeper breaks the wicket after a missed delivery and the batter is not attempting a run, it is a stumping. If the batter is running, it is a run out.
The Mankad — A Special Type of Run Out
Named after Indian bowler Vinoo Mankad, the Mankad dismissal occurs when a bowler runs out the non-striker by breaking the wicket at the bowler's end before delivering the ball, while the non-striker has left their crease early. It is a legitimate dismissal under Law 38.3 — though historically controversial, the MCC re-categorised it as a run out in 2022, removing its 'spirit of cricket' stigma.
Frequently asked questions
Can both batters be run out on the same delivery?
No — only one batter can be dismissed on any single delivery. If both are out of their crease when the wicket falls, the fielding side must choose which batter to claim — typically the one closer to the broken wicket.
What if the ball ricochets off a fielder's helmet and breaks the wicket?
If a fielder wears a helmet that is on their head when the ball deflects off it and breaks the wicket, it can still be a run out — the helmet is considered part of the fielder.
Is the batter safe if the bat bounces off the ground before the wicket is broken?
No — the bat must be grounded (in contact with the ground behind the crease) at the moment the wicket is broken. A bouncing bat counts as grounded at the moment of contact, but not during the airborne phase.