Dead ball in cricket is a term that often confuses beginners or newcomers in the field of cricket. Here is a complete explanation for you on dead ball in cricket as well as situations when the ball becomes dead during the match. 

Let’s have a look! 

What is a Dead Ball in Cricket?

According to cricket rule 20.1.2, when the umpire is at the bowler’s end and both batters at the wicket leave the ball and exclaim, it is not playable. But the final decision is on the umpire’s judgment, whether it is a dead ball or not.

Basically, in dead ball, the batsman may not score runs. Interstingly, the fielder may not attempt to get batters out of the game. 

History of the Dead Ball

The word dead ball first appeared in 1798 cricket laws. It’s in relation to the new laws, in which if the fielder tries to stop the ball with his hat, five penalty runs will be imposed on the batting team. 

So before 1798, there was no use of the word dead ball in the sport of cricket rules and regulations. 

Alternatively, when the bowler takes his run up to bowl the delivery with a cricket ball, in that case, if the batter does not play the ball and does not play a shot, he can be given out. 

9 Situations When Ball Become Dead   

There are nine basic situations that lead to a dead ball. If you have an idea about it, you can easily predict that it is a dead ball in cricket. 

Following are nine situations of dead ball!

Umpire Satisfaction 

if the umpire is completely satisfied with solid reasons that the batsman is not ready for the delivery of the ball during the match, the ball is dead. 

Ball Settled 

In the wicket-kweeper hand of the bowler, the ball is settled, and the exclamation of this is on the judgement of the umpire. 

Boundary Scored 

In the sport of cricket, when the boundary is crossed, the ball will be considered dead.

Batter Dismissal

 When the batsman is dismissed, the ball will be deemed dead

Trapped With Equipment

When the cricket ball is trapped with the cricket equipment, clothing, or item, or between the bat and the person, whether it is played or not, it becomes a dead ball. 

Stuck in a helmet

In a match, when the ball is stuck in the protective helmet of the fielder, it is a dead ball in cricket. 

Umpire Negotiatition 

If the umpire is entangled in a difficult situation, he may get injured or play unfairly, and in many more situations, the ball becomes dead. 

Law 20.1.2 Statement 

Additionally, Law 20.1.2 states that “the ball shall be considered dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.

Umpire Discretion 

The ball is dead at the discretion of the umpires in that cricket game. It may be stances and the legalization of cricket.

A Past Incident of Dead Ball in Cricket

On October 9, 2005, Michael Edward Killeen Hussey, an Australian cricketer, hit the ball in the Telstra Dome. Then no runs were awarded as the ball became dead. 

Umpire Signal on Dead Ball

The umpire singnal the dead bal by the movement of his arm. He crosses and uncrosses his arms to demonstrate that it is a dead ball in the match.