Wides and Dead Balls

In this lesson you will learn how Law 22 defines a wide. If the bowler bowls a ball, not being a no-ball, the umpire calls wide if it passes wide of the striker where they are standing and would also have passed wide of them standing in a normal guard position. A ball is wide if it is not sufficiently within reach for the striker to hit it with the bat by means of a normal cricket stroke. The umpire signals wide by extending both arms horizontally. A wide is not one of the six balls of the over, so another delivery must be bowled. Wides are charged to the bowler, which is why accurate bowling is so valuable in T20 cricket.

• Out of reach for a normal cricket stroke
• Judged from where the striker stands and normal guard
• Signal: both arms extended horizontally
• Not counted in the over and charged to the bowler

In this lesson you will see how the striker's movement affects a wide. Batters often move around the crease in T20 cricket, and the Laws take this into account. Since 2022 the umpire considers where the striker is standing, where they have stood at any point after the bowler began the run-up, and where they would have been in a normal guard position. If the striker moves away and causes a ball to pass wide of them, it should not be called a wide on that basis. A ball is also not a wide if the striker moves so that the ball passes within reach, or if the ball touches the bat or the striker's person. This makes the umpire's judgement fair to both batter and bowler.

• Umpire considers the striker's position from the start of the run-up
• A batter cannot create a wide by moving away
• Not a wide if the ball touches the bat or person
• Not a wide if the striker moves to bring it within reach

In this lesson you will learn how T20 playing conditions often treat wides. In many limited-overs competitions umpires apply a stricter interpretation, especially down the leg side, so that most deliveries passing outside the leg stump without touching the batter are called wide. Some competitions also mark guide lines on the pitch to help umpires judge wides on the off side. These are playing conditions rather than Laws, and they vary between competitions. For that reason, check the WFA competition regulations to see what interpretation applies in league matches. Whatever the interpretation, the umpire's decision is final, and bowlers should adjust their line rather than dispute the call.

• Limited-overs cricket often applies a stricter interpretation
• Most balls passing down the leg side may be called wide
• Some competitions mark wide guide lines
• Check the WFA competition regulations for league interpretation

In this lesson you will learn how wides are scored. Under the Laws, one run is added as a wide, and any runs the batters complete, or any boundary, are also scored as wides rather than as runs to the striker. For example, if a wide runs away to the boundary, five wides are recorded. Batters cannot be out bowled, caught or LBW from a wide, but they can still be out stumped, run out, hit wicket or obstructing the field. Scorers record wides as extras against the bowler and must remember that the over needs another ball. Clear umpire signals and an acknowledgement from the scorers help keep the scorebook accurate.

• One run penalty, plus runs completed as wides
• A wide to the boundary counts as five wides
• Possible dismissals: stumped, run out, hit wicket, obstructing
• Not out bowled, caught or LBW from a wide

In this lesson you will study Law 20, dead ball. The ball becomes dead automatically in a number of situations. These include when it is finally settled in the hands of the wicketkeeper or the bowler, when a boundary is scored, when a batter is dismissed, when it lodges in a batter's clothing or equipment or in an umpire's clothing, and when penalty runs are awarded in certain cases. Whether the ball is finally settled is a matter for the umpire's judgement. Once the ball is dead, no further runs can be scored and no one can be dismissed until the ball comes back into play when the bowler starts the run-up for the next delivery.

• Finally settled with the wicketkeeper or bowler
• A boundary is scored or a batter is dismissed
• Ball lodges in clothing or equipment
• No runs or dismissals while the ball is dead

In this lesson you will learn when an umpire must call and signal dead ball. Examples include a serious injury to a player or umpire, the striker not being ready to receive the ball, the bowler dropping the ball or failing to deliver it, a bail falling before the striker receives the ball, unfair play, and a deliberate attempt to distract the striker. Since 2022 the umpire can also call dead ball if a person, animal or object on the field interferes with play. The signal is crossing and re-crossing the wrists below the waist. If dead ball is called before a delivery, that ball does not count in the over. Safety always comes first, so injuries should be dealt with straight away.

• Serious injury, or the striker not ready
• Bowler drops the ball or fails to deliver it
• Interference from a person, animal or object
• Signal: crossing and re-crossing wrists below the waist

In this lesson you will learn how dead balls affect the count. A delivery only counts towards the six-ball over if it is a legitimate ball and is not called a no-ball or a wide. If the umpire calls dead ball before the striker has had a chance to receive it, for example because a bail fell or the striker was not ready, the delivery is not counted and must be bowled again. Where a ball has been delivered and played normally, and then becomes dead in the usual way, it counts as a ball in the over. Scorers should follow the umpire's signals closely and should never record a ball as part of the over until it is clear it counts.

• Only legitimate deliveries count in the over
• Dead ball before receiving: not counted, bowl again
• A normal delivery that then becomes dead still counts
• Scorers follow the umpire's signals

In this final lesson you will review wides and dead balls together. A wide is a fair-looking delivery that is out of reach of a normal cricket stroke, judged with the striker's position in mind. It adds runs as extras and does not count in the over. A dead ball means no more runs or dismissals can happen until the next delivery. Some dead balls happen automatically, others must be called by the umpire, often for reasons of safety or fairness. Both Laws rely on clear signals and good communication with scorers. Remember that league interpretations of wides can differ, so check the WFA competition regulations, and always put the safety of players first.

• Wide: out of reach of a normal cricket stroke
• Dead ball: play stops until the next delivery
• Some dead balls are automatic, others called
• Check the WFA regulations for wide interpretation