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Every Way to Get Out in Cricket, from Bowled to Timed Out

All ten dismissals under the 2026 Laws of Cricket: which count for the bowler, which can happen off a no ball or wide, and how common each one is.

By Published 4 min read

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Key takeaways

  • The Laws list nine dismissals in Laws 32 to 40, plus 'retired out' under Law 25: ten ways in all.
  • Bowled, caught, hit wicket, LBW and stumped count as the bowler's wicket; run out, obstructing the field, hit the ball twice and timed out do not.
  • Off a no ball, a batter can only be out hit the ball twice, obstructing the field or run out; off a wide, also hit wicket or stumped.
  • Caught is by far the most common dismissal: 56.9% of Test dismissals between 1877 and 2012, ahead of bowled and LBW.
  • The 2026 Laws clarify hit wicket and limit 'bunny hop' catches by fielders jumping from outside the boundary.

A batter's innings can end in many ways, and only some of them involve the bowler beating the bat. The Laws of Cricket, in MCC's 2026 edition, set out nine methods of dismissal in Laws 32 to 40, and Law 25 adds a tenth, retired out. Here is each one, how often it happens, and the rules about extras and credit that trip up new fans.

The ten dismissals

Law Dismissal In brief Bowler's wicket?
32 Bowled A legal delivery breaks the striker's wicket, even off bat or body Yes
33 Caught The ball comes off the bat and a fielder holds it before it touches the ground Yes
34 Hit the ball twice The striker wilfully hits the ball a second time, other than to guard the wicket No
35 Hit wicket The striker breaks their own wicket with bat or body while receiving the ball or setting off for a first run Yes
36 Leg before wicket The ball would have hit the wicket but for the striker's body Yes
37 Obstructing the field A batter wilfully obstructs or distracts the fielders, including striking the ball with a hand not holding the bat No
38 Run out A batter is out of their ground when a fielder fairly breaks the wicket No
39 Stumped The striker leaves the crease without attempting a run and the wicket-keeper breaks the wicket Yes
40 Timed out The incoming batter is not ready within 3 minutes No
25 Retired out A batter retires for a reason other than illness, injury or another unavoidable cause, and does not resume; resuming needs the opposing captain's consent No

Wikipedia notes that before the 2017 Code, "handled the ball" was a separate dismissal; it is now covered by obstructing the field. For run out, obstructing the field, hit the ball twice and timed out, the Laws state outright that the bowler does not get credit for the wicket; Wikipedia's summary table of dismissals shows bowled, caught, hit wicket, LBW and stumped credited to the bowler.

How common each one is

Wikipedia cites an analysis of 63,584 Test match dismissals between 1877 and 2012:

Dismissal Share of Test dismissals
Caught 56.9% (40.6% by fielders, 16.3% by the wicket-keeper)
Bowled 21.4%
Leg before wicket 14.3%
Run out 3.5%
Stumped 2.0%

Those five methods made up 98.2% of all dismissals; the rest were retirements, hit wicket, hit the ball twice, handled the ball or obstructing the field, and timed out.

Out off a no ball or a wide

Extras change what is possible:

  • No ball. Law 21 says that when no ball is called, neither batter can be out except hit the ball twice, obstructing the field or run out.
  • Wide. Law 22 allows only hit wicket, obstructing the field, run out or stumped.

So a batter can be stumped off a wide, because the keeper may gather a ball the batter has reached for, but never bowled, caught or LBW off one. No ball and wide rules covers when each is called.

Fine print that decides close calls

Bowled takes precedence. If the wicket is broken by a legal delivery, the striker is out bowled even if another method could also apply.

Caught must be a fair catch. Neither the ball nor any fielder touching it may be grounded beyond the boundary before the catch is completed. The 2026 edition also ends the "bunny hop" catch: MCC's summary of the changes explains that a fielder who jumps from outside the boundary may touch the ball while airborne only once, and must then be wholly grounded inside the boundary for the rest of the delivery.

Hit wicket has new clarifications. MCC's 2026 summary explains that receiving the ball lasts until the batter regains balance, so a striker who stumbles onto the stumps after a shot is out. But the striker is not out if a fielder knocks them into the wicket, or if a detached piece of equipment, such as a bat that slips from the hands, touches another player before hitting the stumps.

Stumped versus run out. If the striker has not attempted a run and the keeper breaks the wicket alone, it is stumped; if the striker was attempting a run, or another fielder was involved, it is run out.

LBW has the most conditions of all; the LBW rule explained works through them, and how DRS works explains how reviews test them.

Every dismissal ends up in a player's numbers, from batting averages to bowling strike rates; cricket stats explained shows how. In Cricket Sport Career Simulator, one of our sports career games, your cricketer's batting technique and cricket IQ are among the skills you develop to stay in longer.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

How many ways can you get out in cricket?
Ten: bowled, caught, hit the ball twice, hit wicket, leg before wicket, obstructing the field, run out, stumped and timed out under Laws 32 to 40, plus retired out under Law 25. Handled the ball was a separate dismissal until 2017 and is now part of obstructing the field.
Can you be out on a no ball?
Only three ways. Law 21 says that when no ball has been called, neither batter can be out except hit the ball twice, obstructing the field or run out. So a batter cannot be bowled, caught, LBW or stumped off a no ball.
Does the bowler get credit for a run out?
No. The Laws state that the bowler does not get credit for a run out, obstructing the field, hit the ball twice or timed out. Bowled, caught, hit wicket, LBW and stumped are credited to the bowler.
What is timed out?
After a wicket falls or a batter retires, the incoming batter must be ready to face, or for the other batter to face, within 3 minutes. If not, Law 40 makes the incoming batter out, timed out. It is very rare.

Sources

  1. The Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code, 4th Edition (2026) (opens in a new tab)Marylebone Cricket Club — accessed
  2. Laws of Cricket: Changes for 2026 (opens in a new tab)Marylebone Cricket Club — accessed
  3. Dismissal (cricket) (opens in a new tab)Wikipedia — accessed

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