Wide Delivery in Cricket Explained
What constitutes a wide in cricket, how the laws differ between formats, and the impact wides have on match outcomes.
What Is a Wide?
A wide is called when a delivery passes outside a line that the umpire judges the batter, standing in a normal guard position, could not reasonably have reached to hit. Wides are penalised with one run added to the extras and the delivery must be rebowled. Unlike a no-ball, the batter can be stumped off a wide if they step out of their crease.
Wide Laws by Format
The wide standard differs significantly between Test cricket and limited-overs cricket. In Tests, the umpire applies a generous standard and calls very few wides — a delivery that misses the stumps by 40 cm may pass without penalty. In ODIs and T20Is a much stricter standard applies: any delivery that passes outside the return crease on the off side or beyond leg stump on the leg side without the batter moving across is called wide. This tighter standard was introduced to prevent bowlers bowling negative lines outside off stump.
Types of Wide
- Off-side wide — passes outside the off-side return crease at any height
- Leg-side wide — passes behind leg stump without the batter moving to leg
- High wide — a full toss that is so high and wide it could not be hit (rare)
- Down the leg wide — passes leg stump on the leg side; common when bowling around the wicket to left-handers
Dismissals Off a Wide
A batter can be dismissed stumped off a wide if they leave their crease attempting to play the ball. Hitting wicket, handled ball (now obstructing the field), and timed out are also technically possible off a wide, but extremely rare. The batter cannot be caught, bowled, or LBW off a wide delivery.
Frequently asked questions
Does a wide count toward a bowler's economy rate?
Yes. Wides are included in the runs conceded column of a bowler's figures and count toward their economy rate. However, wides do not count toward the over — a wide must be rebowled, and the over is not complete until the correct number of legal deliveries have been bowled.
Can a batter be caught off a wide?
No. A wide is an illegal delivery and a batter cannot be caught out off an illegal delivery. They can, however, be stumped if they leave their crease attempting to play it.
Why do T20 bowlers bowl more wides than Test bowlers?
T20 cricket incentivises bowling in tight areas — at the batter's feet with yorkers, outside off stump, or very wide outside leg — which brings the line of the wide close. The pressure of the death overs, the pace variations, and the need to bowl in difficult areas increases the risk of missing the line.