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Every scorer has had the moment: the ball is hit, there is a scramble, an appeal, a shout of “dead ball!” from somewhere — and the two batters are standing in the middle arguing about whether that second run counts. Almost every one of those arguments is really about one question: was the ball already dead?
Dead ball is one of the shortest ideas in cricket and one of the most useful. It marks the exact instant after which the game stops counting anything. This guide sets out when a ball is dead under the Laws of Cricket, which cases are automatic and which need an umpire’s call, what happens to runs, wickets and extras, and what a scorer should — and should not — write down.
What “Dead Ball” Means
The ball is either live (in play) or dead. While it is live, the batters can score runs, be dismissed and the fielding side can act on it. When it becomes dead, all of that stops: no more runs, no more dismissals, and anything that happens afterwards is void until the next delivery is bowled and the ball comes into play again.
In the current MCC Laws (2017 Code) this is Law 20. Older printed editions of the Laws (the 2000 Code) numbered it Law 23, which is why you will still see “Law 23” in older articles and coaching material. The ICC’s playing conditions for Tests and ODIs carry the same rule under their own clause 20.
When the Ball Becomes Dead Automatically
Law 20 lists a set of events that make the ball dead without anyone having to call anything. In plain language:
| The ball becomes dead when… | What it means for the scorer |
|---|---|
| It is finally settled in the hands of the wicket-keeper or bowler | The delivery is over. Any further “running” is not scored. |
| A boundary is scored | Record the boundary. Nothing more can be added to this delivery, apart from the extras rules covered in our overthrows and boundary guide. |
| A batter is dismissed | The ball is dead from the instant of the incident that caused the dismissal, so nothing that happens afterwards counts. |
| It becomes trapped between the bat and a batter’s body or clothing, or lodges in a batter’s clothing or equipment, or in an umpire’s clothing | The batters cannot run for it. Record no runs from that point. |
| An offence results in an award of penalty runs | Record the penalty runs per the Law that produced them. |
| There is a contravention of the protective-helmet regulations | Dead ball is called; penalty runs may be awarded. |
| The match is concluded | Nothing further is recorded. |
There is also a catch-all: the ball is considered dead when it is clear to the umpire at the bowler’s end that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have stopped regarding it as in play. That is what allows a ball rolling gently back to the bowler after a dot ball to be treated as finished without anyone shouting.
When the Umpire Calls “Dead Ball”
Beyond the automatic cases, umpires can call and signal Dead ball themselves when something makes the delivery unfair or unsafe to continue. Typical examples include a bowler accidentally dropping the ball or failing to release it in delivery, a batter not being ready and the umpire accepting that, a batter or fielder being distracted or obstructed, or a serious injury. The exact list, and the detail of what happens to the runs in each case, is set out in Law 20 itself. If you are scoring a competition that uses its own playing conditions, check them, because leagues do sometimes add to the Laws.
The umpire’s signal is crossing and re-crossing the wrists below the waist. Nothing is added to the total for a call of Dead ball, and the delivery is usually treated as not having happened. Every other signal a scorer needs to react to is in our umpire signals guide.
What Still Counts When the Ball Goes Dead
“The ball is dead” does not mean “everything that happened is wiped out.” What survives depends on how the ball went dead. These are the cases that cause the arguments:
| Situation | Runs | Counts as a ball in the over? |
|---|---|---|
| Batter is run out (on a legal delivery) | Runs completed before the run out count; the run in progress does not | Yes |
| Batter is caught (on a legal delivery) | No runs from the bat; only any no-ball or wide penalty stands | Yes |
| Ball becomes dead after a no-ball or wide has been called | The one-run penalty stands | No — the delivery is re-bowled |
| Umpire calls Dead ball before the delivery counts (for example, the ball is dropped in the delivery stride) | None | No |
| Boundary is hit | Boundary runs stand (see the boundary guide for how runs already run are treated) | Yes |
Notice that the ball being dead does not itself make a delivery void. A wicket or a boundary is a dead ball, and both are absolutely counted deliveries. What matters is why the ball went dead. When in doubt, ask the umpire — at the end of the over, not mid-ball.
Dead Ball and the Free Hit, No-Balls and Wides
A no-ball or wide is an extra the moment it is called. If the ball then goes dead — say the batter is run out on a no-ball, or the umpire stops play — the penalty run still stands and the delivery is re-bowled. That is also why a free hit is unaffected by a dead ball: the free-hit status comes from the earlier no-ball, not from the delivery that follows. See our free hit guide and guide to cricket extras for the wider picture.
Dead Ball and Run Outs
The most contested dead-ball moment in a real match is a run out. The ball is dead from the instant of the dismissal, so a second run that the batters were still completing cannot count. The Mankading guide shows the same principle in a different setting: when the non-striker is run out before the ball is bowled, the ball is never delivered and no ball is bowled at all. For the rarer dismissals, where the timing of “dead” matters even more, see our guide to rare dismissals.
Dead Ball at the End of an Over
When the sixth legal delivery of an over has been bowled and the ball is dead, the umpire calls “Over.” Because the ball is dead at that point, no runs, no run outs and no appeals can take place after it. A common source of disputes is a late throw at the stumps after the batters have stopped running: if the ball was already dead when the throw was made, the umpire will not give a run out.
A Scorer’s Checklist for Dead Ball
- Watch the umpire, not the ball, after a scramble. If they cross their wrists below the waist, do not record a delivery.
- Record extras first. A no-ball or wide called before the ball goes dead still counts.
- Count wickets and boundaries as deliveries. The ball is dead, but the delivery happened.
- For a run out, note how many runs were completed before the incident — that number goes in the book, and the run in progress does not.
- If you are unsure, do not guess. Wait for the over to finish and ask the umpire to confirm.
New to keeping the book? Start with how to score a cricket match, then read the beginner’s guide to cricket scoring rules.
Scoring Dead Balls Cleanly with CricPulse
If you enter a delivery and the umpire then calls it dead, the fix should be one tap, not a rewritten scorecard. CricPulse keeps a running ball-by-ball log with an undo for the last delivery, so a mistaken entry can be removed before the over moves on. Want to record your next match properly, even when the umpire changes their mind? Score your match with CricPulse — free on iOS and Android.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a ball become dead in cricket?
Under Law 20 of the Laws of Cricket, the ball becomes dead when it is finally settled in the hands of the wicket-keeper or the bowler, when a boundary is scored, when a batter is dismissed, when it becomes trapped or lodged in a batter’s clothing or equipment (or an umpire’s clothing), when an offence results in penalty runs, and when the match is concluded. It is also treated as dead once the umpire is satisfied that the fielding side and both batters have stopped regarding it as in play.
Can runs be scored off a dead ball?
No. Once the ball is dead, nothing that happens afterwards counts — no runs can be scored and no batter can be dismissed. Runs and extras already earned before the ball went dead are kept, subject to the specific rules for the way it became dead, such as a boundary or a dismissal.
Does a dead ball count as one of the six balls in the over?
Not by itself. A delivery that is called dead before it properly counts as a delivery is not part of the over and is bowled again. The wording matters, though, because a ball that becomes dead because a batter is dismissed or a boundary is hit was a genuine delivery and does count.
Is a no-ball or wide still counted if the ball then becomes dead?
Yes. If a no-ball or wide has already been called, the penalty run for it stands even if the ball then becomes dead because of a dismissal or any other reason. The extra is recorded and the delivery is re-bowled.
What is the umpire’s dead ball signal?
The umpire crosses and re-crosses the wrists below the waist. The scorer should acknowledge it and not record a delivery for that ball unless the umpire tells them it counts.
Is dead ball the same as a ball that has gone for four?
Both make the ball dead, but they are recorded differently. When a boundary is scored the ball goes dead at that instant and the boundary runs are added, whereas an umpire’s Dead ball call usually means the delivery does not count at all.