Cricket Extras: Byes, Leg Byes, No-Balls, and Wides Explained
Extras are runs scored without the bat hitting the ball — byes, leg byes, no-balls, and wides. They are credited to the batting team's total but not to any individual batsman's score. This guide explains each type of extra, how they are scored, and their strategic implications.
Extras (also called 'sundries' in some parts of the world) are runs credited to the batting team that do not come from the bat. They are shown separately in a team's scorecard as 'Extras' rather than being assigned to any individual batsman. Extras can be significant — it is not unusual for a team to score 25-40 extras in an ODI innings, equivalent to a useful batting contribution. The four types are: byes, leg byes, no-balls, and wides.
Byes
A bye is scored when the ball passes the batsman without touching the bat and also without touching the batsman's body — the ball evades both bat and pad, the wicketkeeper misses it, and the batsmen run. Byes are credited to Extras but not attributed as a wicketkeeper's 'mistake' in formal scoring — they represent a combination of the bowler beating the bat, the ball deviating unexpectedly, and the keeper being in the wrong position. On fast, bouncy pitches (Australia, South Africa), byes are more common because the ball can rise sharply above the keeper's gloves.
Leg Byes
A leg bye is scored when the ball makes contact with the batsman's body (not the bat) and the batsmen run — or the ball reaches the boundary. Leg byes are credited to Extras, not to the batsman. There is a crucial condition: the batsman must have been attempting to play a stroke or to avoid the ball (not deliberately using their body to pad the ball). If the umpire decides the batsman deliberately used their pad as a second line of defence (without attempting a shot), leg byes are not awarded — the ball is dead.
No-Balls and Wides as Extras
No-balls and wides add 1 run each to Extras immediately when called, plus any additional runs scored off the delivery. A wide also gives the batting team an additional ball (the over continues). A no-ball gives an additional ball and in limited-overs cricket triggers a free hit on the next delivery. No-balls and wides are attributed to the bowler in bowling analysis — they increase the bowler's economy rate and are specifically tracked as a discipline metric.
Frequently asked questions
What are extras in cricket?
Extras (or sundries) are runs credited to the batting team that do not come from the batsman's bat — they include byes, leg byes, no-balls, and wides. Extras appear separately in a team scorecard. A typical Test or ODI innings includes 15-30 extras; 40+ extras in an ODI innings is considered poor bowling and keeping discipline.
What is the difference between byes and leg byes?
A bye: the ball beats the bat and body completely — neither bat nor pad makes contact — and the batsmen run (the ball also evades the wicketkeeper). A leg bye: the ball makes contact with the batsman's body (not the bat) and the batsmen run. Both are Extras not attributed to the batsman's score. Leg byes require the batsman to have been attempting a shot or avoiding the ball.
Do extras count toward a batsman's score?
No — extras (byes, leg byes, no-balls, and wides) are credited to the batting team's total but not to any individual batsman's score. They appear as a separate 'Extras' entry in the scorecard. However, if a batsman runs off a no-ball or wide, those runs are the extras — the batsman's own score only increases when they hit the ball with the bat.