Cricket is considered to be a religion in India and the game has many rules and one of them is an LBW (Leg Before Wicket). Today we will be explaining about this particular rule of the game. The rules that govern it, and how technology plays a role in the modern game.
What is LBW?
In simple terms, LBW occurs when the ball hits the batter’s body (usually the leg pads) instead of the bat, and the umpire believes the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.
The rule exists to prevent a batter from simply using their body to block the ball from hitting the wickets, which would make it nearly impossible for the bowler to get them out.
The Five Criteria for an LBW Dismissal
For a bowler to successfully appeal for an LBW, the following conditions must usually be met:
1. A Legal Delivery
The ball must be a “fair delivery.” If the bowler bowls a No-Ball, the batter cannot be out LBW.
2. The Pitching
- On the Stumps: If the ball pitches in line with the wickets, it is eligible for LBW.
- Outside Off-Stump: If the ball pitches outside the line of off-stump, the batter can still be out, provided they were attempting to play a shot.
- Outside Leg-Stump: If the ball pitches outside the line of leg-stump, the batter cannot be out LBW, even if the ball was going on to hit the stumps. This is known as the “negative line” rule.
3. The Impact
This refers to where the ball first hits the batter’s pad.
If the impact is in line with the wickets, the batter is likely out.
If the impact is outside the line of off-stump, the batter can only be given out if they were not making a genuine attempt to play the ball with their bat.
4. No Contact with the Bat
If the ball hits the bat before hitting the pad (an “inside edge”), the batter is Not Out. The ball must strike the person/pad without touching the bat or the glove (which is considered part of the bat).
5. Hitting the Wickets
Finally, the umpire must be convinced that the trajectory of the ball would have resulted in it hitting the stumps had the batter’s leg not been in the way.
The Role of Technology (DRS)
In international cricket, the Decision Review System (DRS) uses “Ball Tracking” (Hawk-Eye) to predict the path of the ball.
Umpire’s Call: Because technology has a small margin of error, if the ball is only grazing the edge of the stumps on the replay, the on-field umpire’s original decision stands.
Conclusion
The LBW rule ensures a fair contest between bat and ball. It forces the batter to use their skill with the bat rather than their physical presence to protect the stumps.
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