Summary
A ball becomes dead when the umpire considers it is no longer in play. No runs can be scored and no dismissals can occur once the ball is dead.
Full Explanation
The ball becomes dead in various circumstances:
- The ball is finally settled with the bowler or wicketkeeper - A boundary is scored - A batsman is dismissed - The ball lodges in the equipment of a batsman or umpire - The umpire calls 'dead ball' due to serious injury or other reasons - A fielder's helmet falls on the ground and the ball hits it
The umpire can also call dead ball if: - The bowler drops the ball before delivery - The striker is not ready and doesn't attempt to play - The ball bounces more than twice or rolls along the ground before reaching the batsman
The dead ball rule is crucial for understanding scoring and dismissals — once the ball is dead, nothing that happens counts.
Key Points
- •Ball is dead when settled with bowler/keeper or boundary is scored
- •No runs or dismissals after ball is dead
- •Umpire can call dead ball for safety reasons
- •Ball hitting fielder's helmet on ground = dead ball + 5 penalty runs
Notable Controversies
- •Controversy about when exactly the ball becomes dead in overthrow situations
- •Some argue the 2019 WC Final overthrow should have been called dead ball
Related Rules
Overthrow Rules
If a fielder's throw hits the stumps and deflects away, the batting side can score additional runs. The 2019 WC Final exposed confusion about how to count runs when an overthrow goes to the boundary.
5 Penalty Runs
5 penalty runs are awarded for specific offences including ball tampering, fake fielding, deliberate short runs, time wasting, and the ball hitting a fielder's helmet on the ground.