Walking (Leaving Without Waiting for the Umpire)
Also known as: walking in cricket, should batters walk, walk when you nick it, walking off when you edge it, batter walks, walker in cricket
Walking means a batter leaves the field after edging a catch, without waiting for the umpire's decision. The Laws do not make you walk. They let you leave without an appeal, but an umpire cannot give you out unless a fielder appeals. Whether to walk is a personal and team choice.
Law 31.1 says an umpire shall not give a batter out without an appeal. The same Law says a batter who is out may still leave the wicket without one. So walking is allowed but never required.
Players disagree about it. Some walk every time because they think it is fair play. Others wait for the umpire, because umpires also give some batters out who were not. The Spirit of Cricket asks every player to play fair and accept the umpire's decision. Some teams agree a policy before the season.
If you walk by mistake, you can be called back. If a batter leaves under a reasonable misunderstanding that they are out, the umpire calls dead ball and recalls them (Law 31.7).
Tips by skill level
Agree as a team before the season whether you walk. Then everyone knows what to expect.
If you choose not to walk, stay calm and neutral while the umpire decides. Any show of dissent can be a conduct offence.
Example
A batter feels a thin edge carry to the keeper. Before anyone appeals, he tucks his bat under his arm and walks off. The fielders clap him for his honesty.
Why it matters
Knowing the Law helps you decide what kind of cricketer you want to be. It also stops you walking off when you were never out.
Common mistakes
- Walking for a ball that hit the pad or the ground, not the bat
- Thinking the umpire can give you out without an appeal
- Arguing with a decision instead of accepting it
- Judging teammates harshly for a choice the Laws leave to them
Frequently asked questions
Do you have to walk if you edge it?
No. The Laws let you leave without an appeal but do not require it (Law 31.1). It is your choice.
Can the umpire give you out without an appeal?
No. An umpire shall not give a batter out unless a fielder appeals, even if the batter is out under the Laws (Law 31.1).
What happens if I walk off but I was not out?
The umpire can recall you. If you left under a reasonable misunderstanding of being out, the umpire calls dead ball and calls you back (Law 31.7).
Sources
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), Law 31.1 (Umpire not to give batter out without an appeal), p. 100; Law 31.7 (Batter leaving the wicket under a misapprehension), p. 102
- MCC Laws of Cricket, 2017 Code 4th Edition (2026), The Preamble: The Spirit of Cricket ('Play hard and play fair', 'Accept the umpire's decision'), p. 8
Related terms
- CaughtCaught is a way of being out in cricket. The batter is out when a fielder catches the ball before it touches the ground, after it has come off the bat or a glove on the hand holding the bat (Laws 33.1 and 5.6).
- Edges: Inside, Outside, Thick and LeadingAn edge is when the ball hits the side of the bat instead of the face. An outside edge flies towards the keeper and slips. An inside edge deflects towards your pad, stumps or fine leg. A thick edge takes a lot of the edge and a thin or feather edge barely touches it. A leading edge balloons up off the front edge.
- Nicking Off (Edging Behind)Nicking off is edging a ball outside off stump to the wicket-keeper or slips. It usually comes from playing at balls you could leave, pushing at the ball with hard hands or reaching away from your body. Know your off stump, play late under your eyes with soft hands and leave anything you do not need to play.
- DRS (Decision Review System)DRS lets players ask the third umpire to review an on-field decision on whether a batter is out. Only the batter given out can review an out, and only the fielding captain can review a not out. The request is a 'T' sign within 15 seconds. DRS comes from ICC playing conditions, not the Laws of Cricket.
- Sledging (How to Deal With It)Sledging is fielders talking to a batter to put them off. To deal with it, do not reply, stick to your between-ball routine and focus only on the next ball. If words become obscene, offensive or insulting, tell the umpire, because that is a conduct offence under the Laws.
Cricket analysis is in development
Motion Lab does not analyze this sport yet. Keep exploring the terms in this section.