Extras in Cricket — Byes, Leg Byes, Wides, No-Balls & Penalty Runs
Extras are runs added to the batting team's total that aren't scored off the bat. Learn every type — byes, leg byes, wides, no-balls, and penalty runs — and how they appear on the scorecard.
Extras (sometimes called 'sundries' in older cricket parlance) are runs added to the batting team's total that are not credited to an individual batter. They appear as a separate line on the scorecard and can significantly affect a match — sometimes being the margin of victory. The five types of extras are: byes, leg byes, wides, no-balls, and penalty runs.
The Five Types of Extras
| Extra Type | What It Means | Who Is Penalised |
|---|---|---|
| Bye | Ball misses bat and stumps; batter runs between wickets without contact | Wicketkeeper / fielding side |
| Leg Bye | Ball hits batter's body (not bat); batter runs — only if the batter attempted to hit or avoid the ball | Fielding side |
| Wide | Ball too far from the batter to play normally; adds 1 run + extra delivery | Bowler / fielding side |
| No-Ball | Illegal delivery (overstepping, height, etc.); adds 1 run + extra delivery; free hit in limited-overs | Bowler / fielding side |
| Penalty Runs | 5 runs awarded for fielding side misconduct (e.g. ball hitting a helmet left on the field) | Fielding or batting side depending on infringement |
Byes
A bye occurs when the ball passes the batter without touching the bat or body and the wicketkeeper fails to collect it, allowing the batters to run. Byes are considered the wicketkeeper's fault — they appear in the extras column, not the batter's or bowler's figures. If the ball reaches the boundary without being fielded, 4 byes are awarded.
Leg Byes
A leg bye is scored when the ball deflects off the batter's body (not the bat) and the batters run. There are important conditions: the batter must have attempted to hit the ball OR attempted to avoid it. If the batter made no attempt to play the ball and is struck, the umpire signals dead ball — no leg byes are awarded. Leg byes do not count against the bowler's economy, only the team total.
Penalty Runs
Penalty runs (5 runs) are awarded for specific infringements: if a fielder deliberately damages the ball, uses a helmet left on the field to stop the ball, makes deliberate contact with the ball to prevent a run-out, or tampers with the pitch. They are the rarest type of extra and represent a serious breach of conduct. Penalty runs can be awarded to either side depending on who commits the infringement.
Extras Winning a Match
In England vs Australia at Lord's in 1981, extras contributed 35 runs across the match — more than the margin of the result. Wides and no-balls by the Australian attack allowed England to survive tense passages of play. Teams that minimise their extras maintain a tighter grip on match dynamics.
Frequently asked questions
Do extras count towards a bowler's figures?
Wides and no-balls count against the bowler's economy rate and figures (they add to runs conceded). Byes and leg byes do not — they are fielding errors credited only to the team total, not the individual bowler.
Do extras count in a batter's innings total?
No. Extras are not credited to any batter's individual score. They appear as a separate line on the batting card, usually labelled 'Extras' with the breakdown in brackets (b=byes, lb=leg byes, w=wides, nb=no-balls).
What is the highest number of extras in a Test innings?
Several Test innings have featured 70+ extras. Extras of 50+ are common in Tests where both sides bowl on seaming tracks with tail-end batters. The fielding breakdown between byes, wides, and no-balls varies by surface and attack.