Dead Ball in Cricket Explained — When Play Stops
A dead ball suspends play and cancels any runs or dismissal from that delivery. Learn the 13 situations that make a ball dead, what happens to runs scored, and how dead ball affects DRS.
The ball is 'dead' when play is officially suspended — no runs can be scored, no wicket can fall, and no further action on that delivery counts. Understanding when a ball becomes dead is critical because dismissals or runs that occur after the ball is dead are cancelled.
When does the ball become dead?
The Laws of Cricket (Law 20) list the situations in which the ball becomes dead. The most common include:
- The ball is clearly settled in the wicketkeeper's gloves or the bowler's hands.
- A fielder catches the ball — the ball is dead from the moment of the catch (all runs previously completed count, but no further runs can be scored).
- The ball reaches the boundary — 4 or 6 runs are signalled and the ball is immediately dead.
- A batter is out — the ball is dead once the umpire signals the dismissal.
- The umpire calls dead ball — this can happen for a distraction, a physical injury, or to protect the batter.
- A fielder's helmet on the ground stops the ball — 5 penalty runs are awarded to the batting side, then the ball is dead.
- The ball hits an umpire and a catch results — the ball is dead; the catch does not count.
Umpire calling dead ball
An umpire can call dead ball at any time to protect the safety of players or to cancel a delivery where something unusual occurred before the batter received it — such as a fielder entering the pitch, a non-striker leaving their crease before the ball is bowled, or an outside interference. The delivery is then rebowled.
Dead ball and DRS
DRS reviews can only be triggered on a live ball delivery. If the umpire calls dead ball, no DRS review is possible for that delivery. Additionally, if a team uses DRS to review a decision and loses the review, any action that occurred on the dead delivery is still cancelled.
Frequently asked questions
What is a dead ball in cricket?
A dead ball is when the ball is out of play — no runs can be added and no wicket can fall. The ball becomes dead when settled with the keeper or bowler, when a boundary is scored, when a wicket falls, when the umpire calls dead ball, or in various other situations specified in Law 20.
Can a run out happen off a dead ball?
No. A run out cannot be effected once the ball is dead. Any stumps broken or fielder touching the stumps after the ball is dead does not result in a dismissal.
What happens to runs scored before the ball becomes dead?
Runs physically completed (both batters crossing) before the ball becomes dead are counted. For example, if batters complete 2 runs and then the fielder settles the ball in their hands, those 2 runs stand.
When does the umpire call dead ball deliberately?
An umpire deliberately calls dead ball when there is an outside interference, a player is injured, a fielder illegally enters the pitch, a deliberate distraction occurs, or the ball strikes a helmet placed on the field by the fielding side.