In cricket, the most common mode of scoring runs is when the striker hits the ball followed by which the two batters exchange their ends by crossing the crease on either side of the pitch. The number of runs scored by running is equal to the number of times the two batters exchanged their ends.
Running to score runs requires a great deal of athleticism and understanding between the two players on the field. They need to judge how far the ball is likely to travel before the fielder gets hold of it and throws it back to the fielder near the stumps. There is absolutely no limit on how many runs can the batter run in one ball. A practical upper limit would be four runs.
Most of the times a fielder chasing the ball beyond the 30-yard circle is able to fetch the ball and batters are likely to run two or three runs by then. However, if a fielder misfires the throw such that it results in the ball crossing the boundary line, the batting team and the strike batter will be awarded the number of runs ran by the batters before the ball crossed the boundary line plus four. For example, if the batters have run three runs and then the bowler’s overthrow goes to the boundary, then seven runs are added to the team’s total.
Before the bowler bowls, the batter at the non-striker’s end must be inside the crease. However, there have been multiple instances where the non-strike batter in anticipation of a quick run moves out of the crease as the bowler charges in. In such cases, bowlers have dislodged the stumps of that end and appealed for the run out. This is called Mankading.
Mankading was named after Indian cricketer Vinoo Mankad who dismissed Australian cricketer Bill Brown in two consecutive test matches in 1947. The act of Mankad is perfectly legal since it is stated in the laws that the non-striker should never leave the crease before the bowler releases the bowl. However, different schools of thoughts are prevalent for the same. While some find it against the spirit of the game, some others believe that a batter should be warned once by the bowler.
One of the most commonly asked questions in cricket is whether both batterscan be run out on the same ball. The simple answer is no. Once one batter gets run out, the ball is immediately dead there itself. No further event can take place on that ball. A twisted version of this question is, can two wickets fall on the same delivery? The answer to this question is both yes and no. Let us understand these by two scenarios.
Scene 1: Batsman A hits the ball. There is a confusion with his partner whether to run or not. This results in Batsman B being run out. The batsman is out and the umpire signals a no ball. As a thumb rule, the ball is not legal, but a run out is legal on a no ball. This means that the batter is out on a delivery that is not counted. The next batter walks in. He is run out the very next ball which is a fair delivery.
Hence, this way if a no ball or wide accompanies a run out, followed by another run out on the next legal delivery, the batting team can lose two wickets in one single delivery.
Scene 2: Batter hits straight to the bowler who takes the catch. The bowler sees the batter at the non-strike end out of the crease dislodges the bails at the bowler’s end. So, does this mean two wickets have fallen on one legal delivery? The answer is no. The first event, i.e., the time when the bowler took the catch is the only wicket considered. This is because the bowl is dead after the first event.
Running between the wickets have created both hilarious and pathetic run out scenarios in the past. It is absolutely key for the fielding side to have the needed presence of mind to counter a hint of misunderstanding between the two batters on the crease.
