Declaration
Also known as: declaring an innings, declare an innings, declared innings, innings declared, forfeiting an innings, forfeited innings, declare
A declaration is when the batting captain ends their side's innings before the team is all out. In two-innings matches it is used to leave enough time to bowl the opposition out and win. Under the current Laws a captain can declare whenever the ball is dead, except in the final innings of the match. A declared innings counts as a completed innings.
Law 15 covers declarations. The batting captain may declare the innings closed at any time when the ball is dead, except in the final innings of the match. The captain must tell the opposing captain and the umpires, and the decision cannot then be changed. ICC Test playing conditions say the same.
A captain may also forfeit one of their side's innings before it starts, again except the final innings. A declared or forfeited innings counts as completed. That matters for the result, because a win is decided on completed innings.
Timing a declaration is a balance. Declare too early and the opposition may chase the target. Declare too late and there may not be enough time to take all the wickets. Captains think about the pitch, the weather, the strength of both batting line-ups and the overs left. Many captains declare late in a day so their bowlers get a short spell at openers who have been fielding for hours.
Tips by skill level
In a declaration match, track both the runs needed and the overs left. A declaration only works if your bowlers have time to take every wicket.
Declare so the opposition faces a short, tricky spell before a break or the close of play. Tired openers against a fresh attack are at their most vulnerable.
Example
At 380 for 6 on the fourth evening, the captain declares to give the bowlers ten overs at the openers before stumps.
Why it matters
A well-timed declaration can turn a draw into a win. Knowing the rules and the trade-offs helps you follow and make tactical decisions in multi-day cricket.
Common mistakes
- Declaring without telling the umpires and opposing captain
- Leaving too little time to bowl the opposition out
- Setting a target the opposition can chase comfortably on a flat pitch
- Assuming the side batting last can declare
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean when a team declares in cricket?
The batting captain ends the innings before the team is all out, usually to leave enough time to bowl the opposition out. The declared innings counts as completed.
When can a captain declare?
At any time the ball is dead, except in the final innings of the match. The captain tells the opposing captain and the umpires, and the decision cannot be changed.
What is a forfeited innings?
A captain can give up one of their side's innings before it starts, except the final innings of the match. A forfeited innings counts as a completed innings.
Why would a team declare instead of batting on?
To save time. In a two-innings match you usually need to take 20 wickets to win, so a captain declares once the lead looks big enough to defend.
Sources
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 15 (Declaration and forfeiture: 15.1-15.3), p. 45
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 16.1 (A win in a two-innings match, on completed innings), p. 45
- ICC Men's Test Match Playing Conditions (effective Oct 2026), clause 15 (Declaration and forfeiture), p. 30
Related terms
- Follow-OnThe follow-on lets the side that batted first make its opponents bat again straight away when it leads by enough on first innings. The lead needed is at least 200 runs in a match of five days or more, 150 in a three- or four-day match, 100 in a two-day match and 75 in a one-day, two-innings match. Enforcing it is the leading captain's choice, not a requirement.
- Test CricketTest cricket is the oldest, longest, and most prestigious format of the sport — played over up to five days between two national teams, with each side receiving two innings and ten wickets to be dismissed.
- Match Results (Win, Tie, Draw)A cricket match ends in a win, a tie or a draw. A side wins by scoring more runs than the other side does in its completed innings. A tie means every innings is complete and the scores are level. A draw means the match ends without either of those, usually because time runs out in a multi-day game before the side batting last is bowled out or reaches its target.
- New BallThe new ball is a freshly manufactured cricket ball at the start of an innings (or available after a set number of overs). This swings and seams most readily due to its hard, lacquered surface and prominent seam.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.