Short Run in Cricket Explained — When a Run Doesn't Count

A short run is called in cricket when a batter, while running between the wickets, fails to make their ground — that is, they turn for a run without grounding their bat or body behind the popping crease. The run does not count. The umpire signals a short run by placing one arm bent at the elbow across the chest. The run is subtracted from the total.

The rule: completing a run

Under Law 18 of the Laws of Cricket, a run is complete only when both batters have crossed safely and grounded their bat or some part of their body behind the popping crease. If a batter turns short of the crease — even by a foot — that run is not completed. The umpire at the end where the short run occurred is responsible for calling it. Short runs can occur at either end, and each uncompleted run is deducted.

Accidental vs deliberate short run

Most short runs are accidental — a batter slips, is deceived about the ball's position, or simply misjudges the turn. The run is deducted with no further penalty. A deliberate short run, however, is treated more seriously. If the umpire judges that a short run was deliberately made — for example, to retain the strike when a wicket fell — five penalty runs are awarded to the fielding side in addition to the short run not counting.

Short run and a run out

If a batter is run out while attempting a run that would have been short, the dismissal still stands but the short run is not scored. The batter is given out run out; whether the run was short is irrelevant to the dismissal — the wicket takes precedence over the scoring.

Umpire's short run signal

The umpire signals a short run by touching the near shoulder with one hand. The scorer acknowledges the signal. In live matches, the short run is announced to the fielding team and the scorers immediately. In close matches, particularly in T20 cricket, a short run that is not spotted can later be referred to the third umpire, who can award a short run retrospectively if the evidence is clear.