The LBW Rule in Cricket Explained: Pitching, Impact, Hitting and DRS

LBW, or leg before wicket, is probably the most debated dismissal in cricket. It is easy to understand in principle but has several conditions that must all be met. This article breaks them down and explains how the Decision Review System (DRS) helps. It builds on our guide to the ten ways to get out in cricket.

Why LBW exists

If a batter could simply use their legs to block the ball, they could never be dismissed by a ball that was heading for the stumps. The LBW law prevents this, protecting bowlers and keeping the contest fair. It also means batters must use the bat to play the ball, rather than hiding behind their pads.

The basic conditions

For a batter to be out LBW, the umpire must be satisfied that:

1. The delivery was legal (not a no-ball).
2. The ball did not hit the bat first. If the bat or glove touched it, the batter cannot be LBW.
3. The ball pitched in line between the wickets or on the off side of the batter's stumps. It cannot have pitched outside leg stump.
4. The ball struck the batter in line between wicket and wicket. If the batter made no attempt to play a shot, an impact outside the line of off stump can also count.
5. The ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.

If every condition is satisfied, the batter is out. If even one fails, the batter is not out.

Pitching: where did the ball land?

The pitching point is where the ball bounces on the surface. A ball that pitches on the leg side (outside leg stump) can never result in an LBW dismissal for a right-handed batter, regardless of where it ends up. A ball that pitches in line with the stumps or outside off stump can still result in an LBW, provided the other conditions are met.

Impact: where did it hit the batter?

The impact point is where the ball strikes the batter. When a batter plays a shot, the impact must be in line with the stumps, that is, between the line of off stump and leg stump. If the batter makes no attempt to play a shot, the ball can hit them outside the line of off stump and still be given out, because they chose to avoid playing it.

Hitting: would it have hit the stumps?

The umpire must predict whether the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps. Factors include swing, seam movement, bounce and the distance the ball would travel. If the ball hits the batter far down the pitch, there is more room for the ball to deviate, so umpires may be more cautious.

DRS and ball tracking

With the Decision Review System, a team can challenge an on-field decision. For LBW, ball-tracking technology uses camera data to model the path of the ball before and after impact. It shows:

• Where the ball pitched.
• Where it struck the batter.
• Where it would have hit the stumps.

Because the technology involves prediction, there is a margin for error. This is why you will hear umpire's call: if the projected path shows the ball only clipping the stumps (or the impact is marginal), the original on-field decision stands. The team might lose or keep the review depending on the rules of the competition.

Common misconceptions

• "The batter was hit on the pad, so it's out." Not necessarily. The ball must also be heading for the stumps and meet the pitching and impact rules.
• "The ball hit the batter outside the line of off stump." If the batter was playing a shot, they cannot be out. If they made no attempt to play, they might be.
• "The ball hit the bat then the pad." This is not LBW if the bat touched the ball first.

The takeaway

When you hear an LBW appeal, run through the checklist: legal ball, no bat, pitched in line, impact in line, hitting the stumps. Once you start using it, many decisions will make perfect sense, even the controversial ones. For more on how the sport works, read our guide to cricket formats.