LBW in Cricket — Rules, Umpire Decisions & DRS Review
LBW (Leg Before Wicket) is cricket's most controversial dismissal. Learn the five conditions that must be met, how the DRS ball-tracking system works, and why LBW decisions are so disputed.
LBW — Leg Before Wicket — is the dismissal where the ball strikes the batter's body (usually the pad) when it would otherwise have gone on to hit the stumps. It is cricket's most debated dismissal because it depends on a judgment call about where the ball would have travelled after impact, a fact that cannot be directly observed by the naked eye. The DRS (Decision Review System) and its Hawk-Eye ball-tracking technology have made LBW decisions more accurate — but not less controversial.
The Five Conditions for LBW
All five of the following conditions must be satisfied for an LBW decision to be given out:
- The ball must be a legitimate delivery (not a wide or no-ball)
- The ball must first hit the batter's body (not the bat or glove)
- The ball must pitch in line with the stumps (or outside off stump — but NOT outside leg stump)
- The ball must be going on to hit the stumps (judged by the umpire or Hawk-Eye)
- The point of impact must be in line with the stumps (if the ball pitched outside off stump, the impact must be in line)
The 'Umpire's Call' Zone
When a team reviews an LBW decision using DRS, Hawk-Eye models the ball's projected path to the stumps. If the ball is shown to be hitting the stumps, the on-field decision is overturned. However, if the ball is modelled as only clipping the top or edge of the stumps (within a tolerance zone called 'Umpire's Call'), the on-field decision stands regardless of whether DRS was used to review it. This tolerates the small margin of error in ball-tracking technology.
Common LBW Scenarios
| Scenario | LBW Possible? |
|---|---|
| Ball pitches outside leg stump | No — never out LBW regardless of impact or trajectory |
| Ball pitches outside off stump, hits pad in line | Yes — if ball going on to hit stumps |
| Ball pitches outside off stump, hits pad outside off | No — impact must be in line with stumps |
| Ball hits bat first then pad | No — bat contact first eliminates LBW |
| Ball hits pad, batter plays no shot | Yes — even if impact outside off stump IF pitching in line and hitting stumps |
| No-ball delivery | No — LBW is not possible off a no-ball |
Playing No Shot — A Critical Rule
If a batter makes no attempt to play the ball (known as 'playing no shot'), the LBW rule is slightly different: the ball does not need to pitch in line with the stumps to get the batter out — the ball only needs to be going on to hit the stumps, and the impact must be in line. This rule prevents batters from padding the ball away outside the off stump with no attempt to play it.
Classic LBW Controversy — Rudi Koertzen vs Pakistan (2007)
In the 2007 World Cup, Inzamam-ul-Haq was given out LBW in a contentious decision — ball-tracking showed the ball pitching marginally outside leg stump, which should have meant 'not out'. The decision stood because DRS was not in use, illustrating why the ICC subsequently made ball-tracking mandatory in high-stakes matches.
Frequently asked questions
Can you be out LBW if the ball hits your hand?
No. If the ball makes contact with the hand that is on the bat (the lower hand holding the bat handle), that is treated as 'bat contact' and LBW cannot apply. If the ball hits a hand not on the bat — such as the top hand if it's away from the bat — it could count as body contact.
What happens when DRS shows 'Umpire's Call' on the stumps?
If DRS ball-tracking shows the ball clipping the stumps within the tolerance zone (called 'Umpire's Call'), the on-field decision is upheld — whether that was 'out' or 'not out'. The reviewing team also retains their DRS review if the decision stands due to Umpire's Call.
Why is LBW not given if the ball pitches outside leg?
The Law protects the batter from dismissals for deliveries that angle away behind their legs, where they have no realistic stroke to play. Without this protection, bowlers could bowl around the wicket at pads angled down leg and claim cheap wickets.