What is a dead ball?

What is a dead ball?

There are several situations when a ball is ‘dead’ – when it is automatically ‘dead’, and when the umpire has to call ‘dead ball’.

The situations when a ball automatically becomes dead are when:




The ball is ‘finally’ settled in the hands of the wicket-keeper or the bowler.

It goes for four or six.

It lodges in the batsman’s pad or clothes or the clothes of the umpire or in a fielder’s helmet.

A batsman is out.

A lost ball is called.

The ball is fielded illegally.

There is the call of ‘over’ or ‘time’.




The situations when the umpires should call ‘dead ball’ are when:




There are cases of unfair play and serious injury.

The batsman is not ready to take strike.

The bail falls from the striker’s wicket before the BAL arrives.

The bowler drops the ball before delivery, or does not let it go for some reason.

The umpire goes to consult the colleague.

The umpire disallows leg-byes.