Run Outs in Cricket: All the Types, Rules, and Spectacular Examples
Run outs are among cricket's most dramatic moments — and the most varied. Learn the different types of run out, when it counts as a run out vs stumped, and the most famous direct-hit run outs in history.
A run out is a dismissal in which a fielder removes the bails while the ball is in play and the batter is short of their crease when running between the wickets. It is one of five active wicket-taking dismissals and the only one where the bowler does not receive credit.
Types of Run Out
- Direct hit: a fielder throws the ball and it hits the stumps directly while the batter is out of their ground
- Keeper/fielder breaks stumps with ball in hand: the ball is held while the bail is dislodged
- Non-striker run out (Mankad): the bowler removes the bails at the non-striker's end during the delivery stride if the non-striker has backed up too far
- Stumped: only the wicketkeeper can stump — and it must happen off a delivery, not during a run
- Thrown to wicketkeeper who breaks stumps: a fielder throws, the keeper takes and removes bails
Run Out vs Stumped — The Difference
| Dismissal | Who Does It | When It Happens | Bowler Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run out | Any fielder (or keeper) | While running between wickets | No |
| Stumped | Wicketkeeper only | Off a legal delivery, batter outside crease | No (but credited to keeper) |
The Mankad Dismissal
A Mankad (non-striker run out) is when the bowler removes the bails at the non-striker's end during their delivery action, because the non-striker has backed up too far before the ball is bowled. Named after Vinoo Mankad of India who dismissed Bill Brown of Australia this way in 1947, it was long considered unsportsmanlike. Since 2022, the ICC changed the Law to remove the requirement for a warning — it is now a standard method of dismissal.
Famous Direct-Hit Run Outs
Jonty Rhodes — 1992 Cricket World Cup
Jonty Rhodes' run out of Inzamam-ul-Haq in the 1992 Cricket World Cup against Pakistan is the most celebrated direct-hit run out in history. Rhodes dived full-length and broke the stumps while airborne, dismissing the Pakistan batter for 48 and changing the match.
AB de Villiers and the Laser Arm
AB de Villiers is regarded as the best run-out fielder of his generation — his direct hits from anywhere on the ground (including 80 metres with one hand) dismissed opponents who thought they were safe. His throws from the deep are studied in fielding coaching programmes.
When Both Batters Are Out of Their Crease
If both batters are out of their crease when a run out is completed, only the batter who was running to that end (the one the ball was aimed at) is dismissed. The batter who has reached the crease safely is not dismissed — even if they briefly left their crease before the other end was broken.
Frequently asked questions
What is a run out in cricket?
A run out is when a fielder breaks the stumps with the ball in hand (or by direct throw) while the batter is outside their crease during a run. Neither batter is safe if they haven't crossed the crease line.
What is the difference between a run out and a stumping?
A run out happens while batters run between wickets and can be done by any fielder. A stumping only happens off a legal delivery, done only by the wicketkeeper, when the batter advances and misses the ball.
Is the Mankad dismissal legal?
Yes — since the 2022 ICC Law change, the non-striker run out (Mankad) is explicitly a standard method of dismissal, and no warning is required. It remains controversial in the spirit of cricket debate.