Extras in Cricket — Byes, Leg Byes, Wides & No-Balls Explained
Extras are runs scored that are not credited to the batter. They include wides, no-balls, byes and leg byes. Learn how each type of extra is scored, how they appear on the scorecard, and which format has the most extras.
In cricket, 'Extras' (also called 'Sundries' in some countries) are runs added to the batting team's total that are not credited to any individual batter. They appear as a separate line at the bottom of the batting scorecard. Extras include four types: wides, no-balls, byes, and leg byes. A high extras total can be the difference between winning and losing in a close match.
The four types of extras
| Type | Abbreviation | What triggers it | Extra delivery? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wide | wd | Ball is too far from the batter to hit | Yes — bowler re-bowls |
| No-Ball | nb | Bowler oversteps crease (or other infringement) | Yes — free hit next ball |
| Bye | b | Ball passes bat and keeper, batters run or ball reaches boundary | No |
| Leg Bye | lb | Ball deflects off batter's body (not bat), batters run | No |
Wides
A wide is called when the ball is bowled too far outside the off or leg stump for the batter to reach and play in a normal manner. The ball does not have to be called wide if the batter moves towards it. Wides add 1 run to the batting total and require the delivery to be re-bowled. T20 cricket has stricter wide calling — anything down leg side that would pass outside the body is called wide, which is why T20 extras totals are higher.
No-Balls
A no-ball is an illegal delivery that adds 1 run to the batting total (the batter can still score from the bat) and must be re-bowled. The most common cause is a front-foot no-ball: the bowler's front foot lands beyond the popping crease. In T20 cricket and ODIs, a front-foot no-ball is followed by a free hit — the next delivery the batter cannot be dismissed (except for a run-out).
Byes
A bye occurs when the ball passes the bat (without touching it) AND also passes the wicketkeeper — the batters run as normal. Byes are an indictment of the wicketkeeper: a sharp keeper should rarely concede byes. They are credited to 'Byes' in the extras, not to any bowler. A ball that goes to the boundary without touching bat or keeper counts as 4 byes.
Leg Byes
A leg bye is when the ball deflects off the batter's body (pad, helmet, chest — anywhere except the hand holding the bat) and the batters run. Leg byes are only given if the batter was attempting a stroke or genuinely trying to avoid the ball. Leg byes cannot be scored off a no-ball. The umpire signals a leg bye by touching the raised knee with the hand.
Frequently asked questions
What are extras in cricket and how do they appear on the scorecard?
Extras are runs not scored by a batter. They appear at the bottom of the batting section as a line showing: Extras (b [byes] + lb [leg byes] + wd [wides] + nb [no-balls]) = total. For example: Extras (b 2, lb 4, wd 8, nb 1) = 15 means the batting team scored 15 extras not credited to any batter.
Do wides count as balls bowled in an over?
No — a wide does not count as one of the 6 legal deliveries in an over. The bowler must re-bowl. No-balls also do not count as legal deliveries. This is why overs can contain more than 6 balls when wides and no-balls are bowled.
Can you be out from a wide ball?
A batter can be run out from a wide. They can also be stumped off a wide — if the batter moves out of the crease chasing a wide and the keeper breaks the stumps, it is out stumped (and the wide is still recorded as an extra). However, a batter cannot be bowled, caught, or LBW off a wide.