Leg before wicket (LBW) is one of the methods in which a batter can be dismissed in cricket. The error committed by the batter here sees the ball hit the leg pad of the batter first that are positioned in line of the stumps. However, with a history of over two centuries, this rule is not as straightforward as it seems.
Before the 1940s, if the ball is pitching in line of the stumps and contacts the batter’s pads first, then the umpire would declare the batter out leg before wicket. Irrespective of whether the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps, if it pitched outside the line of the off-stump or leg-stump, the batter was not out. This rule allowed the batters to simply pad away the ball in a defensive way if the ball was not in line with the stumps. To counter this rule, bowlers countered by bowling short-pitched deliveries.
The lack of a protective equipment and the inability to counter bounces reduced the scoring rate. Hence, in 1935, a revised version of LBW came into effect. According to it, if the ball pitched outside the off-stump, hits the pad, and would have gone on to hit the stumps, the batter is declared out. The batter is not out if the ball pitched outside the leg-stump. This rule stands even today.
A few explanations have been proposed on why pitching outside the leg in a LBW appeal is not out. Firstly, a batter, whether right-handed or left-handed, has a wider range of shots that can be hit by swinging the bat from off-side to leg-side. Secondly, if bowlers bowl from the leg-side, they will face the batter’s legs first and not the bat itself. This is in contrast to when the bowler bowls from the off-side.
Cricket is a game between bat and ball, and thus it makes sense, as to why a ball pitching outside the off-stump can be legally counted for a LBW dismissal. Moreover, bowling outside the leg-stump is called a negative line because it makes it difficult for the batters to hit shots.
A final technical explanation that justifies this law can be explained through the blind spot rule which everyone can try at home. Stand in your normal batting stance facing the bowler. Now without moving your head and neck, move your eyes towards the off-side. This is relatively easy as you can certainly appreciate the fielders in that area. Now try doing the same by moving both your eyes towards the leg-side. Clearly, one cannot have a good view of the field, and thus a blind spot develops. Thus, if a bowler is to bowl outside the leg stump with the goal of a possible LBW, it would be a highly partial law in the bowler’s favour.
Despite the justifications of the modern law, shorter formats (like T10 and T20) have forced the batters to increase their range of shots. It would hardly be a surprise if further modifications are to come in the LBW law.
