The game of cricket sees two sides facing each other with each team aiming to score more runs than the opposition. The team that bowls aims to fulfill two objectives: a) restricting the batting side’s total with the help of fielders, and b) taking wickets of batters to finish the innings as fast as possible.
The bowling side can take the wickets of the batsman in multiple ways. The Laws of Cricket kept on updating this section as the game developed and evolves based on materialistic and technological aspects. Let us have a look at all the modes in which a batsman can be called out.
BOWLED
This term is also referred as “clean bowled.” The batter’s main objective is to score runs while simultaneously guarding the stumps behind. A good delivery by the bowler can ruffle the stumps and send the batter to the pavilion. It is important to note that the batter can be out by this method only if at least one of the bails is dislodged from the stumps.
LBW
This is a dismissal method when the batter’s legs hinder the ball’s eventual path towards the stumps. In case the bowl hits the pads, is in line with the stumps, then the batter is said to be out leg before wicket (LBW). If the ball hits the bat first before hitting the pads, then the batter is considered not out. There is much more to LBW than this. Please read more about it by searching “leg before wicket” in the search tab.
CAUGHT OUT
When the bowler bowls, the remaining ten players of the side position themselves in different areas of the ground to stop the bowl from going to the boundary. It so happens during a match, that a shot hit by the batter might go straight to one of the fielders directly without pitching even once on the ground. If the fielder manages to catch the ball, the batter is out ccaught.
CAUGHT BEHIND
Similar rules apply for this mode of dismissal as seen above in the caught-out category. However, in this case, the fielder is the wicketkeeper.
CAUGHT & BOWLED
When bowlers themselves take a catch off the delivery they bowled, then the batter is caught and bowled.
RUN OUT
One of the ways in which a batter can score runs is by running between the wickets and ensuring that each time they cross the pitch, they land their bat across the crease to complete the run. Should the batters face miscommunication or are slow to the crease while running between the wickets, then they put themselves at jeopardy of getting dismissed run out. In both these scenarios if the fielder near the stumps receives the ball and dislodges the stumps (necessarily the bails) and if the batter failed to land his bat across the crease, then a run out is called.
STUMPED
This mode of dismissal is most often seen in spin bowling. The wicket-keeper’s position is in close proximity to the stumps when the spinner bowls. The batter might often move out of the crease to hit an aggressive shot. Often, the spin deceives the batter, leading to the batter missing the shot completely. If the wicket-keeper receives the ball and immediately dislodges the bails while the batter is still outside the crease, then the batter is stumped out.
The above-mentioned scenarios are the most common ways in which a batter can be out. However, there are some rare modes of dismissals that have occurred over the years.
HIT WICKET
A batter might accidentally hit the bat or any other part of the body on the stumps which might result in the bails getting dislodged. This is called hit wicket and the batter is declared out. This form of wicket is credited in the bowler’s account.
RETIRED HURT
This is not exactly a wicket that is earned. It happens when a batter gets injured and is forced to end the innings owing to discomfort. No bowler can get a wicket count if a batter is retired hurt.
DOUBLE HIT
This is a phrase used when the batters hit a shot but accidentally results in the ball hitting the bat twice. This type of wicket adds to the bowler’s credentials.
OBSTRUCTING THE FIELD
This is a rare form of dismissal where a batter tries to break the flow or rhythm of the match by handling the ball.
TIMED OUT
When one batter gets out, the next batter in line has a time of three minutes before the next ball is bowled. If the batter takes more than three minutes or causes unreasonable delay beyond this time, then a time out dismissal is called.
