Batting events are the second part of each delivery you capture when coding a match. This article defines each batting event, explains when to code it, and links to example videos.
In this article
1. Contact
Contact error
What it is: the batter's shot makes contact they didn't intend, including inside, leading and top edges.
When to code it: when the intention of the shot doesn't match where the ball made contact or where it went. For example, a batter trying to work the ball into a gap gets a leading edge, or a defensive shot comes off the glove or an inside edge.
Hit on body
What it is: the ball hits the batter's body anywhere other than the legs, hands or head.
When to code it: it can happen with a forced or unforced intent, but most often because the batter misread the delivery.
Hit on head
What it is: the ball hits the batter on the head.
When to code it: it can happen with a forced or unforced intent, most often because the batter misread or was beaten by the delivery. It can also come from one-off events such as a wayward throw or a contact error.
Hit on pad
What it is: the ball hits the batter on either leg (pad, thigh or foot). It's usually coded together with Play and miss, and possibly Appeal.
When to code it: it can happen with a forced or unforced intent. In an LBW situation, the batter may be deceived by a delivery that beats the bat and hits the pad in front of the stumps. Against spin, a batter may also choose to use the pad as a barrier.
Inside edge
What it is: the ball hits the inside edge of a vertical bat.
When to code it: the intention of the shot doesn't match the contact, because the batter was deceived or misjudged the delivery. Inside edges usually send the ball to the leg side, or into the batter.
Outside edge
What it is: the ball deflects off the outside edge of the bat.
When to code it: outside edges usually go behind square on the off side (slips, gully or the keeper). The shot could be anything from a defensive stroke in a multi-day match to an attacking shot through the off side.
Play and miss
What it is: the batter plays a shot and the ball doesn't touch the bat.
When to code it: the batter meant to play a shot but misread or was deceived by the delivery.
2. Batting events
Appeal
What it is: the fielding team asks the umpire to decide whether the batter is out under the Laws of Cricket. It can be the whole team or a single player.
When to code it: appeals are most common for LBWs, caught behinds, run-outs and stumpings, and occasionally for catches where it's unclear whether the ball carried.
Batter movement
What it is: the batter moves down the pitch, back, or across the crease in either direction to upset or exploit the delivery.
When to code it: more common in shorter formats, where batters need to reach all 360 degrees of the ground. It's also often used against spinners, to change the length or counter the spin.
Bowler variation
What it is: a delivery that differs from the bowler's stock ball to deceive the batter, such as a change of pace, extra revolutions from the fingers, or a different position on the crease.
See Bowler Event Standards for more on bowler variations.
Free hit
What it is: in limited-overs and T20 matches, the delivery after a no-ball is a free hit. On a free hit:
- the batter can't be bowled, caught, LBW, stumped or out hit wicket
- the batter can still be run out, or given out for obstructing the field
- the fielding side can't change the field if the same batter is on strike.
The free hit penalises the bowler for overstepping and gives the batting team a scoring opportunity.
Opportunity
What it is: the batter gives a chance to be dismissed, usually by hitting the ball in the air.
When to code it: for example, an edge at a catchable height through the slips or gully, or a top edge that goes high.
Dropped catches and missed run-outs or stumpings are assumed to be opportunities, so you don't need to code Opportunity for them.
Out
What it is: the batter is dismissed. The ways a batter can be out:
| Dismissal | What happens | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Bowled | The delivery hits the stumps and dislodges the bails. | Watch |
| Caught | The ball comes off the bat or glove and a fielder catches it before it touches the ground. | |
| LBW | The ball hits the batter's leg and the umpire judges it would have hit the stumps. | Watch |
| Run out | A fielder puts down the stumps while the batter is out of their ground attempting a run. | Watch |
| Stumped | The keeper puts down the stumps while the batter is out of their ground and not attempting a run. | Watch |
| Hit wicket | The batter dislodges the bails with their body or equipment while playing a shot or setting off for a run. | Watch |
| Handled the ball | The batter deliberately uses a hand to return the ball to a fielder without the fielding side's consent. | |
| Obstructing the field | The batter deliberately interferes with a fielder's attempt to field the ball. | Watch |
| Hit the ball twice | The batter hits the ball a second time, other than to protect their stumps. | |
| Timed out | The incoming batter takes longer than the allowed time to be ready to face. |
Retired hurt
What it is: the batter leaves the field because of injury or illness. They can return later to continue their innings if they're fit to.
Umpire referral
What it is: the on-field umpires ask the third umpire to help with a decision, such as a run-out or a catch.
3. DRS
What it is: the Decision Review System (DRS) uses technology to help the on-field umpires. Players can use it to challenge certain on-field decisions.
4. Extras
What it is: extras (or sundries) are runs that don't come off the batter's bat or glove. They're added to the team total but not to any batter's score.
| Extra | When it's awarded | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| No-ball | The bowler oversteps the crease or bowls an illegal delivery (such as a high full toss). The batting team gets an extra run, and in limited-overs and T20 matches the next delivery is a free hit. | Watch |
| Wide | The delivery is too wide or high for the batter to reach. The batting team gets an extra run and the ball is bowled again. | Watch |
| Byes | The ball passes the batter and the keeper without touching the bat or the batter's body, and the batters run. | Watch |
| Leg byes | The ball hits the batter's body (not the hand holding the bat) and the batters run. | Watch |
5. Overthrows
What it is: a fielder's throw goes astray and the batters take extra runs. The runs are added to the team total. Overthrows happen in two ways:
- Fielding error: the throw misses the stumps or its target and runs away from the fielders, so the batters run again.
- Boundary overthrow: the throw (including one deflected off the stumps or another fielder) crosses the boundary. The batting side gets 4 runs plus the runs the batters had already completed.
To score the delivery correctly, code the runs the batters completed and the overthrows separately.
6. Score
What it is: the outcome of the delivery.
| Score | Meaning |
|---|---|
| WK (Off) | The ball went through to the keeper on the off side. |
| WK (Leg) | The ball went through to the keeper on the leg side. |
| 0 | No runs scored. |
| 1, 2, 3, 5 | That many runs scored. |
| 4 All Runs | 4 runs scored by running between the wickets, not a boundary. |
| B4 | A boundary: 4 runs to the batter. |
| B6 | A boundary: 6 runs to the batter. |
7. Shot type
Paddle
What it is: the batter moves across the stumps and uses the wrists to flick or sweep the ball, often with a closed face, towards fine leg or short fine leg. Played against spin.
When to code it: the batter is using the space behind square on the leg side to get around the field.
Ramp / scoop
What it is: an attacking, bottom-handed shot where the batter lifts the ball behind the wicket. Played against pace.
When to code it: the batter is using the unfielded space behind the wicket to get around the field.
Reverse sweep
What it is: a sweep played through the off side. The batter may swap their hands, but their stance stays the same (unlike a switch hit): a right-hander's left leg stays the front leg.
When to code it: the batter is protecting the stumps and generating power behind square, to break up or manipulate the off-side field.
Sweep
What it is: played down on one knee into the leg side. Can also be lapped or ramped. Traditionally played against slow bowling.
When to code it: the batter is protecting the stumps and nullifying spin, to break up the field and score on the leg side.
Switch hit
What it is: the batter swaps both their hands and their stance, so a right-hander effectively becomes a left-hander, and vice versa.
When to code it: like the reverse sweep, the batter is trying to break up the field and score boundaries, here by switching hands and stance.
Where to go next
- Bowler Event Standards: bowler variations and the other bowler events.
- Fielding Event Standards: what each fielding event means and when to use it.
- Coding Process: the standard coding requirements for every delivery.
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