The Laws of Cricket Explained: Rules, Dismissals and 2026 Changes
by The team at Western Sports Centre, Derrimut on Aug 05, 2023Cricket is played between two teams of 11. One team bats and tries to score runs, while the other bowls and fields and tries to get 10 batters out. Then they swap, and the team with more runs wins. The rules are called the Laws of Cricket and are written by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in London. The current edition came into force on 1 October 2026.
This guide explains the main Laws in plain words, including the latest changes. Competitions can add their own rules on top, called playing conditions, so always check with your club or association.
The basics
- Teams: 11 players a side. Two batters are on the field at a time, one at each end of the pitch.
- The pitch: a strip 22 yards (20.12 m) long with a set of stumps, called a wicket, at each end. See our guide to the cricket field and its markings.
- Overs: a bowler bowls six legal balls in a row, called an over. Then a different bowler bowls from the other end.
- Innings: a team's turn to bat. It ends when 10 batters are out, the overs run out, or the captain declares.
- Result: the team with more runs wins. In longer matches, a game can also end in a draw if time runs out.
How runs are scored
- Running: one run each time the two batters swap ends safely.
- Four: the ball reaches the boundary after touching the ground.
- Six: the ball clears the boundary without touching the ground.
- Extras: runs not scored off the bat. These include no balls, wides, byes (runs when the ball misses everything) and leg byes (runs when the ball hits the batter's body).
How a batter can be out
| Dismissal | What it means |
|---|---|
| Bowled | The bowler hits the stumps and knocks off a bail. |
| Caught | A fielder catches the ball after it hits the bat or glove, before it touches the ground. |
| LBW (leg before wicket) | The ball hits the batter's body when it would have gone on to hit the stumps (see below). |
| Run out | A fielder breaks the wicket while a batter is out of their ground trying to run. |
| Stumped | The keeper breaks the wicket while the batter is out of their ground and not trying to run. |
| Hit wicket | The batter knocks the stumps over with their bat or body while playing the ball or setting off for a run. |
| Hit the ball twice | The batter deliberately hits the ball a second time, except to protect their stumps. |
| Obstructing the field | The batter deliberately blocks a fielder, including handling the ball on purpose. |
| Timed out | The new batter isn't ready to face within 3 minutes of the last wicket. |
A batter who retires without the umpire's permission and doesn't come back is recorded as retired out.
LBW explained simply
For an LBW, the umpire checks four things:
- The ball didn't land outside the line of leg stump.
- The ball hit the batter in line with the stumps. If the batter didn't try to play a shot, it can hit outside the line of off stump.
- The ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.
- The ball didn't hit the bat or glove first.
No balls and wides
- No ball: most often when the bowler's front foot lands fully over the popping crease. A full toss above waist height is also a no ball. The batting team gets one extra run and the ball must be bowled again. A batter can't be bowled, caught or LBW off a no ball.
- Wide: the ball is too far from the batter to hit with a normal shot. Under the 2026 Laws, a bouncer that passes above the batter's head is also a wide. One extra run, and the ball is bowled again.
Many competitions use stricter wide rules and a free hit after a no ball. These come from playing conditions, not the Laws.
What changed in the 2026 Laws?
The 2026 edition brought in 73 changes. The ones club cricketers are most likely to notice:
- Laminated bats in adult cricket: bats made from glued strips of willow are now allowed in adult cricket, where the local governing body permits it. Before, they were only for juniors.
- Boundary catches: a fielder who goes over the boundary can only jump back into the field once to complete a catch.
- Overthrows: only a throw at the stumps counts as an overthrow. A fumble near the boundary doesn't.
- Dead ball: the ball can now be "finally settled" with any fielder or still on the ground, not just with the keeper or bowler. Read our dead ball guide.
- Last over of the day: in multi-day matches, the final over is finished even if a wicket falls.
- Ball sizes: balls are now called Size 1, 2 and 3 instead of men's, women's and junior.
Changes from 2022 you should know
- No saliva: using saliva to shine the ball is not allowed.
- New batter on strike: after a catch, the new batter faces the next ball, even if the batters crossed.
- Running out the non-striker: if the non-striker leaves their ground early, the bowler can run them out before bowling. This is now a normal run out.
Frequently asked questions
Who makes the Laws of Cricket?
The MCC writes the Laws. The ICC, Cricket Australia and local associations add their own playing conditions for their competitions.
How many ways can you get out in cricket?
Nine under the Laws, plus retired out. Bowled, caught and LBW are the most common.
Are laminated bats legal in my competition?
The 2026 Laws allow them in adult cricket, but each governing body decides at what level. Check with your association before you buy one.
Get the gear
Whatever level you play, we can help you get kitted out at Western Sports Centre in Derrimut. Read our cricket bat buying guide or browse our cricket balls.
