The Value of Singles: Why Running Between Wickets Changes Matches
Singles — the most common scoring method in cricket — do far more than just add one run to the total. They rotate the strike, maintain batting momentum, and force the fielding team to maintain defensive field positions. This article explains why running between wickets is one of cricket's most underappreciated skills.
What Singles Achieve Beyond the Run
Singles are the most common method of scoring in all cricket formats — across Test, ODI, and T20 cricket, between 30-50% of all runs are scored from singles (not boundaries). Beyond the run itself, singles achieve several tactical goals: strike rotation (turning the strike over to the other batsman — this is particularly valuable when a set, in-form batsman is facing a dangerous bowler; by taking a single, the set batsman can engineer to keep facing the easier bowlers while the partner faces the more dangerous ones); pressure relief (the fielding team under boundary threat must spread their fielding — a batting team that runs singles well forces the fielding captain to post close-in fielders to save singles, opening boundary gaps); and running rate maintenance (in limited-overs cricket, accumulating singles at 1 per over contributes to scoring rate without the risk of attempted boundaries — a batting team that runs aggressively rarely needs to play high-risk shots for boundaries).
The Mechanics of Good Running
Effective running between wickets requires specific skills: quick calling (the batsman who plays the ball calls immediately — 'yes,' 'no,' or 'wait' — and the non-striker responds; delayed calling produces hesitation runs that are significantly more dangerous than quick confident calls); realistic assessment (calling a run based on the ball's position relative to fielders — not wishful thinking but a genuine fielder-position calculation); fast starting (both batsmen should be ready to run before the ball is played — a pre-set weight balance that allows an explosive first step within 0.2-0.3 seconds of a 'yes' call); and running straight (the batsman should sprint directly down the pitch to the crease rather than curving — curving between wickets adds 1-3 metres of distance that can be the difference between safe and run-out).
Singles in Different Formats
The value and approach to singles differs by format: in Test cricket, singles are the foundation of innings-building — accumulating singles maintains scoring rate without the dismissal risk of attempting boundary shots; in ODI cricket, singles are important for maintaining a viable run rate across the middle overs (overs 11-40) where boundary opportunities are less frequent due to deeper fielding; and in T20 cricket, singles have become increasingly devalued in favour of boundary attempts — T20 batsmen actively decline singles that would waste batting balls, preferring to take singles only when the fielding configuration creates a specific single opportunity that also helps strike rotation. The declining value of singles in T20 cricket is reflected in changing batting approaches — modern T20 coaches specifically instruct batsmen when singles are worth taking and when to decline them.
Frequently asked questions
How do fielding teams try to stop singles?
Fielding teams use specific tactics to reduce singles: attacking field placement (bringing fielders close to the batsman's hitting zones reduces the spaces available for nudged singles — a mid-on at 15 metres rather than 25 metres prevents the push-singles that go between mid-on and mid-wicket); aggressive fielder approach angles (fielders who sprint aggressively to the ball — even when not saving a boundary — deter the attempted single because the batsman judges the fielder will be close enough to throw quickly); and specific bowling lines that prevent placement to singles-scoring zones (bowling on-stump or just outside, making it difficult for the batsman to glide the ball into the leg-side single zones). Teams that are expert at saving singles have lower average run rates conceded per over — their defensive field specifically targets this category of scoring.
What percentage of runs in Test cricket come from singles vs boundaries?
Approximately 40-50% of Test cricket runs come from singles and twos (non-boundary running), with boundaries accounting for the remaining 50-60%. This split has remained relatively consistent across Test cricket eras — the 50-50 split between running and boundary scoring reflects Test cricket's balance between accumulation (through running) and acceleration (through boundaries). By contrast, T20 cricket's run split is approximately 60-65% from boundaries and 35-40% from running — reflecting the format's emphasis on boundary hitting over single accumulation. ODI cricket falls between the two: approximately 55% from boundaries, 45% from running — reflecting the format's requirement for both boundary-hitting phases (powerplay and death overs) and single-accumulation phases (middle overs).
What is a 'sharp single' and why is it considered high risk?
A 'sharp single' is a run that requires both batsmen to run at maximum speed from the moment of contact, leaving minimal margin for error: the ball goes to a fielder who has a clear throwing line — the batsman must complete the run before the fielder can collect and throw the ball to the keeper or bowler's end; the margin between 'in' (bat grounded before the stumps are broken) and 'out' (stumps broken before the bat is down) is under 0.5 seconds; and the risk of a run-out is significant. Sharp singles are considered high-risk because they require perfect execution from both batsmen — any hesitation, mistimed dive, or poor calling produces a run-out. In Test cricket, sharp singles near the end of the day are particularly controversial — the risk of losing a wicket via run-out in the final over before close is considered significantly higher than the value of the one run added.