Timed Out Dismissal Explained: When a Batter Doesn't Arrive in Time
What the timed out dismissal means in cricket — the Law that requires incoming batters to be ready to face within three minutes, the first timed out dismissal in international cricket history (2023), and why it is the rarest dismissal in cricket.
Timed out is one of cricket's rarest dismissals — a batter is out timed out if they fail to be ready to face a delivery within three minutes (in Tests and first-class cricket) of the previous wicket falling. The Law exists to prevent batting sides from deliberately wasting time by delaying the arrival of the next batter at the crease. Timed out is the only dismissal in cricket that requires no action by the fielding side beyond an appeal — the batter is out by default of time.
The Three-Minute Rule
Law 40 specifies that the incoming batter must be ready to face the next delivery within three minutes of the fall of the previous wicket. 'Ready to face' means the incoming batter must be at the crease and in position — not still walking across the boundary. In practice, three minutes is a very short time in cricket, where television coverage, equipment changes (helmet, gloves, pads adjustment), and long walks from the dressing room can mean a new batter takes 2–3 minutes to arrive even without deliberate delay. The Law is intended to prevent deliberate, obvious time-wasting rather than penalise genuine delays.
First International Timed Out: 2023
The first timed out dismissal in international cricket occurred in November 2023 — Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) was given out timed out against Bangladesh in the ICC World Cup in Delhi. Mathews arrived at the crease within the allowed time but found his helmet was broken and required a replacement; while the replacement was being arranged, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed for timed out. The umpires upheld the dismissal, making Mathews the first player ever to be given out timed out in an international cricket match.
How Rare Is Timed Out?
Timed out is the rarest dismissal in cricket — rarer than obstructing the field, handled the ball (now merged into obstructing the field), or hit the ball twice. In 150 years of Test cricket before 2023, there were no international timed out dismissals; in all first-class cricket history, only a small number of timed out dismissals have been recorded. The rarity reflects both that most batters arrive within the time limit and that fielding teams have historically not appealed for timed out even when they might have had grounds — a reflection of the 'spirit of cricket' convention around allowing reasonable time.
Frequently asked questions
What is timed out in cricket?
A dismissal under Law 40 — if the incoming batter is not ready to face within three minutes of the previous wicket falling, the fielding side can appeal and the batter is out. It is the rarest dismissal in cricket; the first international timed out was Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Who was the first cricketer out timed out in international cricket?
Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) — against Bangladesh in the 2023 ODI World Cup in Delhi. Mathews arrived at the crease within the time window but found his helmet was broken; while a replacement was arranged, Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan appealed successfully. The dismissal sparked debate about spirit of cricket vs the Laws.
How long does a batter have to arrive at the crease?
Three minutes (in Tests and first-class cricket) from the fall of the previous wicket — the incoming batter must be ready to face a delivery within that time. The Law exists to prevent deliberate time-wasting rather than penalise genuine delays.