Wide Delivery in Cricket: When the Ball Is Too Far from the Batsman
A wide in cricket is a delivery that passes too far from the batsman for them to reach it with a normal batting stance, penalising the bowling side with an extra run.
What Is a Wide in Cricket?
A wide is signalled by the on-field umpire when a delivery passes too far from the batsman for them to reach it with a normal batting stroke. A wide costs the bowling side one extra run, the delivery must be re-bowled (it does not count toward the over), and the batting side receives the extra(s) — plus any runs made off the wide ball.
Wide Criteria by Format
| Format | Wide Threshold | Strictness |
|---|---|---|
| Test cricket | Wide of off stump (more latitude) | Lenient |
| ODI cricket | Outside off-stump marking line | Stricter |
| T20 cricket | Outside off-stump marking line | Strict (same as ODI) |
What Counts as a Wide
- Ball passes outside the wide marking lines on the off side
- Ball passes down the leg side beyond the leg stump (even if it pitches on the pitch)
- Bouncer that passes above the batsman's head without them playing it (leg side wide)
- Ball too wide for a batsman who is in a normal stance
Wides as Pressure Indicators
Frequent wides are a sign of a bowler losing control — either targeting the batsman's body and missing, or failing to find their line after a no-ball adjustment. In T20 death overs, where bowlers experiment with wide yorkers, wides are particularly costly.
Frequently asked questions
What is a wide in cricket?
A wide is a delivery that passes too far from the batsman for them to reach with a normal batting stroke, costing the bowling side one extra run.
How many runs does a wide cost in cricket?
One run (plus any overthrow runs if the ball reaches the boundary or fielding errors allow further runs).
Is a wide different in Tests and T20s?
Yes — T20s and ODIs apply a stricter wide line than Tests, where umpires give more latitude for deliveries passing close to off stump.