Ten Ways to Get Out in Cricket: Every Dismissal Explained

In cricket, a batsman can be dismissed in ten different ways listed in the Laws of Cricket. Some — like caught, bowled, and LBW — happen multiple times per match. Others — like hit the ball twice or obstructed the field — occur perhaps once or twice in a decade of international cricket. Understanding each dismissal type is fundamental to understanding the game.

1. Bowled

The most satisfying dismissal for a bowler — the ball hits the stumps and dislodges at least one bail. The batsman is out regardless of whether they hit the ball first. Edge onto stumps counts as bowled, not caught. In Test cricket, bowled accounts for roughly 20 percent of all dismissals.

2. Caught

The most common dismissal in all formats. Any fielder — including the bowler and wicketkeeper — can catch a ball hit by the bat (or glove while holding the bat) before it touches the ground. Catches in the deep, at slip, or diving catches at point are the most celebrated. Caught accounts for roughly 45 percent of all dismissals in Test cricket.

3. LBW — Leg Before Wicket

LBW is given when the ball strikes the batsman's body and the umpire judges it would have gone on to hit the stumps, had the body not intercepted it. The ball must pitch in line with the stumps (or outside off stump) and must not pitch outside leg stump. The DRS system has transformed LBW decisions by providing ball-tracking technology to check umpire calls.

4. Run Out

A batsman is run out when they are outside their crease and the fielding team breaks the stumps while the ball is in play. The batsman does not need to be attempting a run — being backing up too far or inadvertently outside the crease on a no-ball can result in a run out. Either batsman can be run out on any delivery.

5. Stumped

The wicketkeeper dismisses a batsman who has stepped out of their crease to play a shot and missed, by collecting the ball and breaking the stumps before the batsman regains their ground. Stumpings are almost exclusively done by spinners in combination with a sharp wicketkeeper. MS Dhoni, Kumar Sangakkara, and Adam Gilchrist are celebrated for lightning-fast stumpings.

6. Hit Wicket

A batsman is out hit wicket if they knock over the stumps themselves — with their bat or body — while playing a shot or setting off for a run. It is relatively rare but does occur when a batsman plays an extravagant stroke and loses balance, dislodging a bail with their helmet or bat handle.

7. Handled the Ball / Obstructing the Field

Since 2017, 'handled the ball' has been merged into 'obstructing the field'. A batsman is out if they deliberately use their hand (not holding the bat) to field the ball, or if they deliberately obstruct a fielder attempting to field the ball. These dismissals are very rare — perhaps only two or three in a decade of international cricket.

8. Hit the Ball Twice

A batsman is out if they hit the ball twice with their bat, except to protect their wicket. If the ball hits the bat and then the stumps, the batsman can use the bat to stop it hitting the wicket — but using the bat to hit a ball that is already stopped for any other purpose is illegal. This dismissal has barely ever occurred in international cricket.

9. Timed Out

A new batsman must be ready to face the next ball within three minutes of the previous wicket falling. If they delay unreasonably, they can be given out timed out. This has occurred once in an international match — Angelo Mathews of Sri Lanka was given out timed out against Bangladesh in the 2023 ODI World Cup after a helmet strap malfunction.

10. Retired Out

A batsman who retires voluntarily and does not return with permission from the opposing captain is recorded as 'retired out'. Retiring hurt is not the same — that is retired with injury and the player can return. Retired out is sometimes used strategically in minor cricket but is extremely unusual in international matches.