The nine ways to be out, Law by Law.

Nine ways, not ten

There are nine ways to be out under the current Laws. The 2017 Code removed Handled the ball as a separate dismissal and folded it into Obstructing the field, cutting the number from ten to nine, according to a Club Cricket Conference report on the 2017 Code.

Nobody is out without an appeal

Under Law 31.1, neither umpire may give a batter out, even if the batter is out under the Laws, unless a fielder appeals. A batter who knows they are out may leave without waiting for an appeal, and Law 31.2 then treats them as dismissed.

The nine dismissals

Bowled (Law 32)

The striker is out if their wicket is broken by a delivery that is not a No ball, even if the ball touched their bat or body first. New in 2026, Law 32.1.2 says the striker is not out Bowled if the ball touched another player, the non-striker's wicket or an umpire before hitting the wicket. The MCC says this now covers a straight hit that rebounds off the stumps at the bowler's end back onto the striker's wicket.

Caught (Law 33)

The striker is out if a delivery that is not a No ball touches the bat, without first touching a fielder, and a fielder then holds it as a fair catch before it reaches the ground. A change made in the 3rd Edition (2022), at Law 18.11 of that edition, says that after a catch the new batter comes in at the striker's end (unless the over has ended), whether or not the batters had crossed. The ICC brought the same rule into its playing conditions from 1 October 2022. The 2026 Laws also changed catching near the boundary: see the 2026 changes.

Hit the ball twice (Law 34)

The striker is out if, after the ball has hit their bat or body and before a fielder has touched it, they wilfully strike it again with bat or body (other than a hand not holding the bat), unless they did so only to guard their wicket.

Hit wicket (Law 35)

The striker is out if, after the bowler enters the delivery stride and while the ball is in play, they break their own wicket with bat or body while preparing to receive or receiving a delivery, among other listed circumstances. Two 2026 changes, as the MCC describes them:

• Law 35.1.1 now states that receiving the ball lasts until the batter has regained balance after the shot, writing down an interpretation that had long been applied.
• Law 35.2 protects the striker if a detached piece of their equipment touches another player before hitting the wicket, or if a fielder knocks them onto the stumps. Purely incidental contact does not give that protection.

A falling helmet is dealt with in Law 29.2.1.4: the wicket can be broken fairly by part of the striker's clothing or equipment becoming detached, but that detached equipment does not include the striker's protective helmet or any part of it as defined in Appendix A.2.3, which counts faceguards, grilles and neck guards as part of the helmet. Separately from the Laws, ESPNcricinfo reported that from the 2021 season the ECB's playing conditions for all its competitions stopped a dislodged helmet or neck guard from causing a hit-wicket dismissal; the ECB gave player safety and encouraging the use of neck guards as its reasons.

LBW (Law 36)

The striker is out LBW only if every one of these conditions is met:

1. the delivery is not a No ball;
2. the ball lands in line between wicket and wicket or on the off side of the striker's wicket, or is intercepted before landing;
3. it hits the striker's body without first touching the bat;
4. the point of impact is between wicket and wicket, or outside the off stump if the striker made no genuine attempt to play the ball with the bat;
5. the ball would have gone on to hit the wicket.

Obstructing the field (Law 37)

Either batter is out if, while the ball is in play, they wilfully try to obstruct or distract the fielding side by word or action. New in 2026, Law 37.1.3 makes a batter who drops or throws their bat to hit the ball, or to avoid being dismissed, liable to be out this way, and Law 37.5.2 lets the fielding captain choose which batter takes strike after such a dismissal.

Run out (Law 38)

Either batter is out if, while the ball is in play, they are out of their ground and their wicket is fairly broken by a fielder's action or by the ball rebounding off a fielder, whether or not a run is being attempted and even if No ball has been called, subject to the exceptions in Law 38.2.

Law 38.3 covers the non-striker who leaves their ground early. The bowler may run them out from the moment the ball comes into play until the bowler's arm reaches the highest point of the normal bowling action; after that point this run out is no longer possible. Its history:

• 2019: the 2nd edition adjusted what was then Law 41.16 to stress that the non-striker should stay in their ground until the bowler releases the ball.
• 2022: the 3rd edition moved this run out from Law 41 (Unfair play) to Law 38 (Run out) without changing its wording. The ICC made the same move in its playing conditions from 1 October 2022.
• 2026: the MCC says the 4th edition rewords Law 38.3 to make it clearer, without changing its meaning.

The 2026 edition also added definitions, in Appendix A2.7 and A2.8, of a ball "held in the fielder's hand" and of "complete control". The MCC says these matter when a fielder breaks the wicket with the ball in hand for a Run out or a Stumping, and that complete control is the same standard as for a catch. Wisden reported that on 8 October 2026 the MCC clarified that the complete-control requirement applies only when a fielder breaks the wicket with hand or arm while holding the ball, and that direct hits, deflections, kicks onto the stumps and non-striker run outs are unaffected. We have seen only Wisden's report, not the MCC's statement, so this clarification is unverified.

Stumped (Law 39)

The striker is out if, from a delivery not called No ball, they are out of their ground and not attempting a run, and the wicket-keeper breaks the wicket without another fielder being involved.

Timed out (Law 40)

After a wicket falls or a batter retires, the incoming batter must be ready to receive the ball, or the other batter ready for the next ball, within 3 minutes; otherwise the incoming batter is out Timed out. The ICC has set shorter limits for international cricket: from 1 October 2022 it set 2 minutes in Tests and ODIs, down from 3, and kept 90 seconds in T20 internationals.

Reviews

Under the ICC's women's ODI playing conditions (effective July 2026), players may ask the third umpire to review any decision on whether a batter is out except Timed out. The details are on the umpires and DRS page.