Scoring and Extras

A run counts only when each batter has reached the far end and made his ground behind the popping crease.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 18 · recall

An odd number of runs leaves the batters at opposite ends from where they started, so the other batter now faces.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 18 · applied

A batter out of his ground when the wicket is fairly broken is run out, no matter who called him back.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 38 · applied

If a batter fails to ground bat or body behind the line before turning, that one run is not counted.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 18 · applied

The batter's "ground" is the area behind the popping-crease line; on the line or short of it, he is at risk.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 30 · recall

Running the first run at full pace, bat outstretched, buys the time to come back for a second.

Source: General batting principle · applied

The batter with the clearer view calls: the striker for balls in front of the wicket, the non-striker for balls behind.

Source: General batting convention · recall

A non-striker out of his ground before the bowler's normal release point can be run out by the bowler.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 38 · applied

Overthrows are added to the runs already run, so two run plus a four equals six from that delivery.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 19 · applied

Batters can run as many as they dare while the ball is in play; it is dead once it settles with a fielder and the action is over.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 20 · recall

A ball that reaches the boundary along the ground, however many times it bounced, is four runs.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 19 · recall

Six is awarded when the ball clears the boundary on the full; if it bounces first, it is only four.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 19 · recall

Bouncing on the way does not change anything: a hit that reaches the rope on the ground is worth four.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 19 · applied

A ball that clears the boundary on the full is six, whether it lands a metre or fifty metres beyond it.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 19 · applied

When the ball goes to the boundary along the ground, the batting side takes the boundary value, not the runs already run.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 19 · applied

Both arms raised overhead signals six; a single arm swept across the body signals four.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

Runs off the bat are added to the no-ball penalty, so a six off a no-ball is worth seven.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · applied

If a fielder in contact with the ball touches or crosses the boundary, it counts as a boundary hit.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 19 · applied

The ball crossed the boundary on the full before striking the screen, so it is a six.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 19 · applied

With limited overs, T20 batters attack hard and hit over the top; a Test batter usually values his wicket more.

Source: General playing principle · applied

Some part of the front foot must land behind the popping crease; landing wholly beyond it is a front-foot no-ball.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · recall

A fast full toss above waist height, a "beamer", is a no-ball because it is dangerous to the batter.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · recall

A ball that pitches more than once, or rolls along the ground, before reaching the batter is a no-ball.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · recall

The bowling arm must not be straightened in the delivery swing; a thrown ball is an illegal delivery and a no-ball.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · recall

Since a 1981 incident, underarm bowling is a no-ball unless it was specifically agreed before the match.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · recall

No more than two fielders may stand behind square on the leg side at the moment of delivery; a third is a no-ball.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 28 · recall

Some part of the front foot has to be behind the line; on the line, with nothing behind it, is a no-ball.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · applied

In white-ball internationals a no-ball brings a free hit, off which the striker cannot be bowled, caught or LBW.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (free hit) · recall

Hitting the stumps is a bowled dismissal, and bowled is one of the modes a free hit rules out.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (free hit) · applied

Forcing the bowler to keep part of his foot behind the crease stops him stealing ground and gaining an unfair edge.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 21 · applied

A wide is a ball out of reach of a normal stroke from where the batter is standing.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 22 · recall

White-ball playing conditions call leg-side and off-side wides strictly, to discourage negative bowling.

Source: ICC Playing Conditions (wides) · recall

If a normal stroke was possible, choosing to leave the ball does not turn it into a wide.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 22 · applied

The umpire judges reach from where the batter actually stands, so his own movement can make a ball fair.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 22 · applied

Any contact with the batter or bat cancels a wide; runs then taken would be leg-byes if a shot or evasion was attempted.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 22 · applied

A ball that passes out of reach over the batter's head is a wide in most playing conditions.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 22 · applied

Every run from a wide delivery is scored as a wide, so one plus four equals five wides.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 22 · applied

Each wide is a run to the batting side and an extra delivery to bowl, both of which hurt a bowler under pressure.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 22 · applied

Both arms held out horizontally is the wide signal; the raised hand is a bye and the tapped knee a leg-bye.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 2 · recall

A delivery is a no-ball or a wide, never both, and the no-ball call overrides the wide.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 22 · recall

A bye comes off a ball that beats the bat and the body entirely and is then run.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 23 · recall

A leg-bye comes off the striker's body, most often the pads, and is then run.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 23 · recall

Leg-byes need a genuine attempt to play a shot or to get out of the way; otherwise they are disallowed.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 23 · recall

With no attempt to play or avoid the ball, leg-byes are not allowed and the runs are cancelled.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 23 · applied

Wides and no-balls, and any runs off them, are charged to the bowler; byes and leg-byes are not.

Source: General scoring convention · recall

Byes and leg-byes are the keeper's or the batters' doing, so the total rises but no bowler is charged.

Source: General scoring convention · recall

A ball that beats everything and reaches the boundary is four byes, whether or not the batters actually ran.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 23 · applied

Runs made off the bat belong to the striker; only runs off the body or a beaten keeper become extras.

Source: General scoring convention · applied

A ball hitting a fielding-side helmet on the ground brings five penalty runs to the batting side.

Source: MCC Laws of Cricket 2017 code (3rd edition 2022), Law 28 · recall

Extras are runs like any other and form part of the team total; a heavy extras count often swings a close match.

Source: General scoring convention · applied