A run-out is a dismissal in which a batter is out of their ground and the fielding side fairly breaks the wicket while the ball is in play. It is set out in Law 38 of the MCC Laws of Cricket and most often happens when batters attempt a run and one fails to reach the safety of the crease in time. Unlike being bowled or caught, a run-out is not credited to the bowler; it is the work of the fielders.
The basic rule
A batter is safe when some part of their bat or body is grounded behind the popping crease. They become out of their ground the moment nothing is grounded behind that line. If, at any time while the ball is live, a batter is out of their ground and a fielder fairly puts down the wicket at the end they are running toward, the batter is run out. It does not matter whether a run is actually being attempted; a batter who wanders out of the crease can be run out even off a defensive stroke, provided the ball is still in play.
How the wicket is broken
The wicket is fairly put down when at least one bail is dislodged from the top of the stumps, or a stump is struck out of the ground, by the ball, or by a fielder’s hand or arm holding the ball. A fielder may throw the stumps down directly or break them while holding the ball. If the bails have already been removed earlier in play, a fielder can complete a run-out by pulling a stump out of the ground while holding the ball, subject to the Law’s conditions. Precision matters, because umpires and, in professional cricket, television replays judge whether the batter was short of the crease at the exact instant the wicket was broken.
Which batter is out
Because two batters run between the same set of stumps, the Laws specify who is dismissed. The batter nearer to the wicket that is put down is the one given out, since that is the end they are running toward. If the batters have crossed during the run, the one heading for the broken wicket is out; if they have not crossed, it is the batter who started at that end.
| Situation | Batter given out |
|---|---|
| Wicket broken at striker’s end | Batter running to the striker’s end |
| Wicket broken at non-striker’s end | Batter running to the non-striker’s end |
| Both batters at same end | The batter out of their ground |
Run-out versus other dismissals
A run-out is easy to confuse with a stumping, but the two differ. A stumping is performed only by the wicketkeeper when the batter is out of their ground after missing or leaving a delivery, without attempting a run. A run-out can be completed by any fielder and usually occurs during a run. Both differ again from an LBW or a catch, which are tied to the delivery itself. Importantly, a run-out is one of the few ways a batter can be dismissed even off an illegal delivery, so a batter can be run out off a no-ball or a wide, and also on a free hit.
The non-striker run-out
A distinctive form of run-out involves the non-striker leaving their ground early. If the non-striker backs up too far before the ball is delivered, the bowler may break the wicket at that end and run them out, whether or not the ball is then bowled. Long known informally as a Mankad, this dismissal was reclassified in 2022, when its wording was moved from the unfair play Law to Law 38, confirming it as a normal run-out rather than an act of poor sportsmanship. Batters are simply expected to stay in their ground until the ball is released.
Judging a close run-out
Many run-outs are desperately close, decided by whether the bat was grounded behind the line at the instant the wicket broke. On-field umpires may refer such decisions to the third umpire, who uses slow-motion replays to check the exact frame the bails were dislodged against the position of the bat or body. A bat that is grounded and then bounces up as the batter stretches can be caught in the air at the crucial moment, meaning the batter is technically out of their ground even though the bat crossed the line. These fine margins make the run-out one of the most replay-scrutinized dismissals in the modern game.
Why run-outs matter
Run-outs are unique because they can stem from a batting error, a mix-up in calling, or brilliant fielding, rather than from the bowler beating the bat. Sharp ground fielding, quick and accurate throws, and alert work close to the stumps all create run-out chances, which is why field placement and athleticism are so valued; understanding cricket fielding positions helps explain where these chances come from. A single run-out can swing a tight limited-overs match, and avoiding one, whether to keep a partnership going or to dodge a duck, is a core running-between-the-wickets skill. The full detail lives in Law 38 of the MCC Laws of Cricket.
Frequently asked questions
How is a run-out different from being stumped?
Both involve a batter out of their ground with the wicket broken, but a stumping is done by the wicketkeeper off a delivery the batter has not offered a run for and has not been called a no-ball. A run-out can be effected by any fielder and typically happens while the batters are running.
Which batter is out in a run-out?
The batter who is nearer to the wicket that is put down is the one given out, because that is the crease they are running toward. If both batters are at the same end, the one who has left their ground is dismissed.
Does a run-out count against the bowler?
No. A run-out is credited to the fielding side rather than the bowler, and it does not count as a delivery faced for dismissal purposes in the same way as bowled or LBW. The wicket is a team effort by the fielders.
Can you be run out off a no-ball?
Yes. Run out is one of the few dismissals that still applies on a no-ball and on a free hit. Even though the batter cannot be bowled or caught on those deliveries, a run-out remains possible if a batter is out of their ground.
What is a Mankad run-out?
A Mankad is when the bowler runs out the non-striker who has left their ground before the ball is delivered. It is a legitimate dismissal, and in 2022 the wording was moved from the unfair play Law to Law 38 to treat it as a normal run-out.
What happens if the batters cross before the wicket is broken?
If the batters have crossed on their run, the batter running to the end where the wicket is broken is out, and any completed runs before the dismissal may count. Umpires judge the moment the wicket is fairly put down to decide which batter is out and how many runs stand.
