Byes and Leg Byes
Also known as: bye, byes, leg bye, leg byes, leg-bye, extras in cricket
Byes are runs the batters take when the ball misses both the bat and the batter's body, usually because it also beats the keeper. Leg byes are runs taken after the ball hits the batter's body but not the bat. The umpire allows leg byes only if the batter tried to play the ball with the bat or tried to get out of its way. Both are extras: they count for the team but not for the batter, and they are not charged to the bowler.
Law 23 covers both. A bye comes from a delivery that passes the striker without touching the bat or body. Any runs the batters complete, or a boundary, count as byes. If the delivery was a wide, the runs count as wides instead. If it was a no ball, the one-run no ball penalty is added on top.
A leg bye comes from a ball that hits the striker's body first. Runs count only if the umpire is satisfied the striker either tried to play the ball with the bat or tried to avoid being hit. If neither happened, the umpire disallows the runs. The umpire waits until the ball reaches the boundary or the first run is completed, then sends the batters back to their ends.
Byes and leg byes are added to the team total as extras. Under Law 18.10, they are not credited to the striker and not charged to the bowler. A six can only be scored off the bat, so byes or leg byes that reach the boundary count as four.
Tips by skill level
If the ball hits your pad and rolls away after you played a genuine shot, look to run. If you padded it away with no shot, the runs will not count.
Keepers and fielders on the leg side can cut off easy leg byes. As a batter, back up well at the non-striker's end so you can steal a quick leg bye when the ball deflects fine.
Example
The batter tries to glance a ball down the leg side, misses, and it rolls away off his thigh pad. Because he played a shot, the batters can run leg byes.
Why it matters
Byes and leg byes add to the score in close matches. Knowing when leg byes are allowed stops you running for nothing and helps you read the scorebook.
Common mistakes
- Running leg byes after padding the ball away without offering a shot
- Calling runs off a wide "byes" when they are scored as wides
- Expecting byes or leg byes to count toward the batter's own score
- Thinking a ball that runs away for byes over the rope is worth six
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a bye and a leg bye?
A bye is a run taken when the ball misses both the bat and the batter. A leg bye is a run taken after the ball hits the batter's body but not the bat.
When is a leg bye not allowed?
When the batter made no attempt to play the ball with the bat and did not try to avoid being hit. The umpire then disallows any runs and sends the batters back.
Do byes count against the bowler?
No. Byes and leg byes go into extras. They are not charged to the bowler and are not added to the batter's score.
Can you score six byes?
No. A six needs the ball to be hit by the bat, so byes or leg byes that reach the boundary count as four.
Sources
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 23 (Bye and Leg bye: 23.1-23.3), pp. 77-78
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 18.10 (Crediting of runs scored; runs debited to the bowler), pp. 56-57
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 19.7.1-19.7.2 (Boundary 6 only when struck by the bat), pp. 62-63
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 22.7 (Runs resulting from a Wide), p. 76
Related terms
- WideA wide is a delivery the umpire judges too wide, or too high, for the striker to hit with a normal cricket stroke from where they stand (Law 22.1). It adds one run and must be bowled again. Many competitions paint wide guide lines and set stricter limits in their playing conditions.
- No-BallA no-ball is an illegal delivery in cricket. Most commonly when the bowler's front foot lands beyond the popping crease — resulting in one extra run and the delivery being re-bowled. The batter cannot be out bowled, caught, LBW, stumped or hit wicket. Run out, hit the ball twice and obstructing the field still apply (Law 21.17).
- Over and Maiden OverAn over is a set of six valid balls bowled by one bowler from one end. Wides and no balls do not count toward the six, so an over can contain more than six deliveries. A maiden over is an over in which no runs are charged to the bowler. Byes and leg byes do not spoil a maiden, but a run off the bat, a wide or a no ball does.
- Boundary (Four and Six)A boundary is scored when the ball reaches or crosses the edge of the playing area. If the batter hits the ball and it lands beyond the boundary without touching the ground first, it is six runs. If it bounces or rolls over first, or reaches it without being hit by the bat, it is four. A ball that touches the rope, or a fielder who is touching the ground beyond it, counts as reaching the boundary.
- GlanceThe glance (or leg glance) is a wristy deflection played to a ball on the leg side, angling the bat face to direct the ball fine to leg without force.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.