LBWLBW

Law 36 of the laws of cricket still has peoples' heads in a spin - exactly

how does the LBW law work?

Statistically, at least 60% of all your decisions will be LBW appeals.

– If you can feel and act confidently in this area, then you will have gone a long way to getting almost two thirds of all your decisions correct!

The Statstics• LBW % over the years

Period                         LBWs              Total dismissals                          LBW percentage 1877- 99                      101                 2143                                          4.71 1900-09                       109                 1388                                          7.85 1910-19                         76                   949                                          8.01 1920-29                       180                 1525                                         11.80 1930-39                       323                 2620                                         12.33 1940-49                       166                 1311                                         12.66 1950-59                       655                 5021                                         13.05 1960-69                       661                 5778                                         11.44 1970-79                       721                 6115                                         11.79 1980-89                     1196                 7734                                         15.46 1990-99                     1754               10564                                         16.60 2000-06                     1578                 9241                                         17.08

Striker is out LBW in thecircumstances set out below(a)The bowler delivers a ball not

being a no ball(b) The ball, if it is not intercepted

full pitch, pitches in line between wicket and wicket or on the off side of the striker's wicket

and

The Law

(c) The ball not having previously touched his bat, the striker intercepts the ball, either full pitch or after pitching, with any part of his person

and

(d) The point of impact, even if above the level of the bails

either

1) Is between wicket and wicketor

(2) Is either between wicket and wicket or outside the line of the off stump if the striker has made no genuine attempt to play the ball with his bat

and(e) but for the interception, the ball would have hit the wicket

Making a Decision

Four Questions

• On appeal and if the ball was a fair delivery the umpire must consider 4 questions.

• 1) If the ball pitched, was that between wicket and wicket or on the off side?

• 2) Was the first point of interception the strikers person or equipment, and not

his bat?

• 3) (a) Was the first point of interception between wicket and wicket

• (b) Was the first point of interception between wicket and wicket or on the off side?

• 4) Had the ball not been intercepted would it have gone onto and hit the wicket?

• If any of the above questions are answered no then the batsman must be given not out.

• If the ball lands outside the line the of leg stump, the batsman cannot be given out

• - even if the ball would have gone on to hit the wickets

Batsman cannot be out if the ball hits the bat

Yet more considerations

• The umpire must also consider four other variables:

• The height of the ball's bounce

• Swing and spin of the ball

• Where the ball hit the pad

• Whether the batsman is attempting to play a stroke

Height of the ball's bounce

Swing and spin

Where the ball strikes the pad

Is the batsman playing a stroke?

Umpires under pressure

• LBW appeals happen within the space of two seconds, often less.

• During that time the umpire has to

assess numerous factors before arriving at their final outcome.

• The increasing role of technology has brought even greater scrutiny to LBWs.

• TV viewers can see a decision from numerous angles with the help of computer software which can predict swing and spin.

• But the umpire has only one chance to get the decision right

• Handy Hints for the Four Questions

• 1)Did the ball pitch in line between wicket and wicket or outside off stump?

• Be conscious from where the bowler has delivered the ball in relation to the return crease.

• Pick up the flight of the ball after watching the placement of the feet.

• Continue to watch the ball closely and actually see it hit the pitch. Do not assume where it is going to land – see where it hits the pitch.

• As soon as the ball pitches outside leg stump – mentally dismiss any thoughts of LBW

2) – Did the ball hit the bat or the hand holding the bat?

• Use sight and sound when making this decision. Most of the time you will not see the deflection, so you are looking for “two noises”. Sight will assist in making sure the bat was next to the ball when you heard the first noise.

• Be aware of the position of the ball in relation to the bat when you hear the sound – always remember the possibility of pad / bat sequence.

• Sometimes the keeper and slips will not hear or see the “nick” but the body language of the bowler may provide a clue.

• Give yourself time. Wait a couple of seconds before making your decision – give your brain a chance to register if there were two noises or not.

3) – Was the first point of impact in line between wicket and wicket?

• Be aware of where the batsman is standing and what movement he has made in receiving the ball.

• See the first point of impact in relation to the pad.

• Use the stumps as a guide - can you see leg stump? - can you see off stump?

- can you see both stumps?

• Batsman Playing a Shot

• Decide whether the batsman has made a genuine attempt to play the ball with the bat.

• Having decided that the batsman has not attempted to play the ball (and the other parts of the LBW law are satisfied), then decide if the ball would have hit the stumps.

4 – Would the ball have hit the wicket?

• Where was the ball delivered from?

• Was it…

- Stump to stump?

- Wide near the return crease?

- Somewhere in between?

• What was the nature of the delivery? Was it…

- An off cutter or leg cutter?

- An in swinger or out swinger?

- An off spinner, leg spinner, toppie or wrongun?

• What was the distance of travel between pitching and the first point of impact?

• What is the distance between the point of impact and the stumps? The further this point is from the stumps, the greater the margin is for the ball missing the stumps.

• Was the ball climbing or dieing

after impact?