What Are the Laws of Cricket?
The Laws of Cricket are the codified rules that govern every aspect of the game — from how the pitch is prepared to how a batter can be dismissed. Maintained by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) since 1788, there are currently 42 Laws covering the players, umpires, scoring, ball, bat, pitch, and all modes of play.
While the MCC Laws form the foundation, the International Cricket Council (ICC) publishes additional Playing Conditions for international matches, and domestic boards like the BCCI add tournament-specific regulations for competitions such as the IPL, Ranji Trophy, and Vijay Hazare. This guide covers both the universal laws and the format-specific rules you will encounter as a cricket fan or player.
Batting Rules
Batting rules govern how a batter scores runs and the various ways they can be dismissed. The most common batting dismissals are bowled, caught, and LBW, but there are ten modes in total. Batters must also obey crease laws, handle the ball legally, and arrive at the crease within the stipulated time.
- LBW (Leg Before Wicket) — The most complex dismissal in cricket. The ball must pitch in line or outside off, hit the pads in line with the stumps, and be going on to hit them. Read full guide →
- Timed Out — A new batter must arrive at the crease within 2 minutes (in Tests/ODIs) or be given out. Angelo Mathews became the first international victim of this rule in 2023. Read full guide →
- Handled the Ball — Historically a separate dismissal, now merged with “obstructing the field” under the 2017 MCC code. Read full guide →
- Obstructing the Field — A batter who deliberately blocks or distracts a fielder can be given out. Extremely rare in international cricket. Read full guide →
- Hit the Ball Twice — A batter may only hit the ball a second time to protect their wicket, not to score runs. Read full guide →
Bowling Rules
Bowling rules dictate legal delivery actions, prohibited deliveries, and the penalties for infringements. A legal delivery must be bowled with a straight arm (less than 15 degrees of elbow extension), from behind the popping crease, and within the width guidelines. Violations result in no-balls or wides, giving the batting team extra runs.
- No-Ball Rules — Front-foot no-ball, height no-ball, bouncer limits, and fielding no-balls. In limited-overs cricket, a no-ball also triggers a free hit. Read full guide →
- Wide Ball Rules — Varies by format: T20s have the strictest wide-ball lines, while Tests are the most lenient. Read full guide →
- Free Hit Rule — After a no-ball in ODIs and T20s, the next delivery is a free hit where the batter cannot be bowled, caught, or given LBW. Read full guide →
- Over Rate Rules & Penalties — Teams must bowl their overs within the allotted time or face fines, suspensions, and in-match fielding penalties. Read full guide →
Fielding Rules
Fielding rules cover player positioning, catching laws, boundary regulations, and restrictions on the number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle. The wicket-keeper is the only fielder allowed to wear gloves and pads, and they must remain behind the stumps until the ball is played or passes the stumps.
- Boundary Catch Rules — A fielder must have no part of their body grounded beyond the boundary when completing a catch. Relay catches and “superman” efforts are allowed if done legally. Read full guide →
- Fielding Restrictions — During powerplay overs, only 2 fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Violations result in a no-ball. Read full guide →
- Valid Catch Rules — What constitutes a clean take, control, and fair catch under the MCC Laws. Read full guide →
Dismissals — All 10 Ways to Get Out
There are exactly ten ways a batter can be dismissed in cricket. Some are common, while others are so rare that many fans have never seen them in a live match.
| # | Dismissal | Description | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bowled | The ball hits the stumps and dislodges a bail. | — |
| 2 | Caught | A fielder catches the ball before it bounces after the batter hits it. | Catch rules → |
| 3 | LBW | Ball would have hit stumps but struck the batter's pads. | LBW guide → |
| 4 | Run Out | Fielder breaks the stumps while the batter is outside the crease. | Run out vs stumping → |
| 5 | Stumped | Wicket-keeper breaks the stumps while batter is out of crease after missing the ball. | Run out vs stumping → |
| 6 | Hit Wicket | Batter dislodges their own stumps while playing a shot or setting off for a run. | — |
| 7 | Handled the Ball | Batter deliberately touches the ball with a hand not holding the bat (now under “obstructing the field”). | Handled ball guide → |
| 8 | Obstructing the Field | Batter deliberately blocks or distracts a fielder. | Obstruction guide → |
| 9 | Hit the Ball Twice | Batter intentionally hits the ball a second time (except to protect the wicket). | Hit twice guide → |
| 10 | Timed Out | New batter fails to arrive at the crease within the stipulated time. | Timed out guide → |
Additionally, a non-striker can be run out by the bowler at the point of delivery, commonly known as a Mankad dismissal. While technically a run out, it is one of cricket's most debated rules.
Match Formats & Special Rules
Different formats have their own unique playing conditions on top of the core Laws. Here are the key format-specific rules:
- DLS Method — The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method recalculates targets when rain interrupts an ODI or T20. It factors in overs lost and wickets in hand to set a statistically fair revised total. Read full guide →
- Follow-On — In Test matches, if a team leads by 200+ runs after the first innings (150 in 3–4 day matches), the captain can make the opposition bat again immediately. Read full guide →
- Impact Player Rule (IPL) — A tactical substitution introduced in IPL that lets teams swap one player per innings from a pre-designated list of four. Read full guide →
- Powerplay Rules — Fielding restriction phases that limit the number of fielders outside the 30-yard circle, encouraging aggressive batting in the early overs. Read full guide →
- Super Over — The tie-breaking mechanism in limited-overs cricket. Each team faces one over with three batters, and the higher score wins. Read full guide →
- Rain Rules & Reserve Days — What happens when rain stops play: DLS, reserve days in knockouts, and when a match is abandoned. Read full guide →
Umpiring & Technology
Modern cricket relies heavily on technology to support umpiring decisions. The Decision Review System (DRS) was introduced in 2008 and is now used in all ICC events and most bilateral series. A third umpire sits in a TV room and reviews replays for run outs, stumpings, catches, and referred LBW decisions.
- DRS (Decision Review System) — Ball-tracking (Hawk-Eye), UltraEdge, Snicko, and hot spot. Each team gets a limited number of unsuccessful reviews per innings. Read full guide →
- Third Umpire Review Process — Step-by-step breakdown of how TV reviews work: the protocol for checking no-balls, boundary calls, and dismissals. Read full guide →
Recent Rule Changes
Cricket's rules are constantly evolving. Here are the most significant recent changes that every fan should know about:
- Impact Player Rule (2023–present): The IPL introduced tactical substitutions, effectively making games 12-a-side. This has boosted batting totals and changed team composition strategy. Full Impact Player guide.
- New Ball Rules Update: The ICC has refined when and how teams can take the new ball. In Tests, teams can request a new ball after 80 overs. In ODIs, two new balls are used (one from each end). New ball rules explained.
- Concussion Substitutes (2019–present): A player diagnosed with concussion during a match can be replaced by a like-for-like substitute approved by the match referee. Concussion substitute guide.
- Mankad Legitimised (2022): The MCC officially moved the non-striker run-out from “unfair play” to the regular “run out” section, removing any stigma. Mankad guide.
- Over-Rate Fielding Penalty (2023): If a team falls behind the required over rate, they lose the right to have more than 4 fielders outside the 30-yard circle for the remainder of the innings. Over rate penalties.
- Stop Clock (2024): Bowlers must start their run-up within 60 seconds of the previous delivery being completed, or a penalty is applied.
Cricket Rules FAQ
How many laws of cricket are there?
The MCC maintains 42 Laws of Cricket that cover everything from the pitch dimensions to dismissals, umpiring, and fair play. The ICC adds supplementary playing conditions for international matches.
What are the 10 ways to get out in cricket?
Bowled, Caught, LBW, Run Out, Stumped, Hit Wicket, Handled the Ball (now merged with obstruction), Obstructing the Field, Hit the Ball Twice, and Timed Out. See the dismissals table above for detailed descriptions and links to each guide.
What is LBW in cricket?
LBW (Leg Before Wicket) is a dismissal where the ball would have hit the stumps but was blocked by the batter's body, usually the pads. It involves multiple conditions about where the ball pitched, where it struck the pads, and its projected path. Full LBW guide.
What is the DLS method in cricket?
The Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method is a mathematical formula that sets revised targets in rain-affected limited-overs matches. It accounts for overs remaining and wickets in hand to determine a fair par score. DLS method explained.
What is the Impact Player rule in IPL?
The Impact Player rule allows each IPL team to bring on one substitute player from a pre-designated list of four at any point during an innings. The substitute can bat, bowl, and field, effectively creating a 12-a-side game. Impact Player rule explained.