The Leg Before Wicket (LBW) law in cricket has been a source of never-ending debate and speculation. In the pre-DRS era, the LBW law hardly shied away from igniting controversy. To successfully adjudicate an LBW appeal, an umpire needs to make several considerations. A number of factors had to be kept in mind. For example, the umpire needed to accurately assess the impact of the cricket ball, at what point the ball made contact with the pad or body not holding the bat, and whether or not it was going in to hit the stumps.

But there is another crucial criterion that must be taken into account. And that is to see whether the cricket ball pitched outside the line of leg stump or not. So a burning question stands – Can You Be Out LBW If the Ball Pitches Outside Leg Stump?

The short and definite answer is – NO

A batter cannot be given LBW if the ball pitches outside leg stump because the laws of cricket consider it unfair to dismiss a batter from that angle. Even if the ball goes on to hit the stumps, pitching outside leg automatically makes the batter not out. But that’s not all! In this article, we will explore why is pitching outside leg not LBW and try to understand the logic behind why batters are given such a fortunate reprieve under this very interesting LBW ruling.

How Is The Batter Adjudged LBW Out in Cricket?

According to Law 36 of the MCC, for a batter to be dismissed under the LBW law, the following conditions have to be met.

36.1.1 The bowler delivers a ball, not being a No ball

36.1.2 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

36.1.3 the ball not having previously touched his/her bat, the striker intercepts the ball, either full-pitch or after pitching, with any part of his/her person

36.1.4 the point of impact, even if above the level of the bails,

either is between wicket and wicket

or if the striker has made no genuine attempt to play the ball with the bat, is between wicket and wicket or outside the line of the off stump.

36.1.5 but for the interception, the ball would have hit the wicket.

Clause 36.1.2 under the LBW out rules states very clearly that the cricket ball must pitch either in line with the stumps or just outside the off-stump. In no other clause does it make a mention of cricket ball pitching outside the leg stump. So, can you be out LBW if the ball pitches outside the leg stump? Clearly, no chance of that happening, as the rules for LBW law make it crystal clear that the ball must either pitch in line with the stumps or just outside off stump line, but NEVER outside leg stump.

Why Is Pitching Outside Leg Always Not Out?

The LBW rule first came into existence in 1744 and has since undergone numerous amendments. This was done in an effort to strike a fair balance between bat and ball to make the game more exciting. While we’ve now come to terms with the fact that the batter can’t be dismissed under the Leg Before Wicket rules when the cricket ball pitches outside leg, it’s time to delve further into the reasoning.

This LBW clause exists primarily because the authorities back in the day realized that any ball that pitches outside the line of leg stump is generally hard to hit. In other words, your body will inadvertently come in the way of the cricket ball should it pitch outside leg. It was often referred to as the batter’s “Blind Spot in Cricket”. Deliveries pitching outside leg stump often come from behind the batsman’s back or front pad, making them difficult to spot and hit.

Understanding the Blind Spot in Cricket

One of the biggest reasons why the LBW law does not allow dismissals when the ball pitches outside leg stump is because of the batter’s natural blind spot on the leg side. The blind spot in cricket reduces reaction and visibility of the batters and forces them to negotiate the delivery from a much tougher angle. Unlike deliveries pitching outside off stump, balls arriving from outside leg can angle in from behind the batter’s line of vision, making them much harder to judge and defend consistently.

This special clause under the LBW rule prevents bowlers from repeatedly exploiting an unfair angle and ensures a better balance between bat and ball in cricket.

Another major reason to have this LBW rule in place was to discourage bowlers (Whether spinner or fast bowler) from resorting to “negative” bowling tactics. It could have been an easier ploy for the bowlers to target a batter’s pads from a much sharper angle, i.e., from around the wicket. But thankfully, the laws of the game offer a leeway to the batters in this regard.

Which Type Of Bowlers Are Affected The Most By The Pitching Outside Leg LBW Rule?

Typically, left-arm bowlers bowling to the right-hand batters from over the wicket or vice versa suffer the most from this ruling. If the fast bowlers or the spinners want the LBW rule to go in their favor, they will need the cricket ball to pitch ideally in line with the stumps and hope that the ball does not drastically deviate sideways. The ball can, however, pitch outside the line of off stump, but it will have to move back in considerably, thus planting a seed of doubt in the umpire’s mind. But the moment the cricket ball marginally pitches outside leg, the LBW appeal becomes invalid even if the ball would have gone on to crash into the stumps.

What is The Difference Between Pitching Outside Off and Outside Leg?

Scenario	Out or Not Out?	Explanation
Ball pitching outside leg stump	❌ Not Out	A batter cannot be given out under the LBW law if the ball pitches outside leg stump under.
Ball pitching outside off stump	✅ Can Be Out	The batter can still be given out if all other conditions are satisfied under the LBW out rules
Ball pitching in line with stumps	✅ Can Be Out	LBW dismissal remains possible if the impact and wickets criteria are met under the rules for LBW.
Ball pitching outside leg but hitting stumps	❌ Not Out	Pitching outside leg automatically cancels the appeal made under the LBW law.

Key FAQ’s Answered On Pitching Outside Leg LBW Rule

So, can you be out LBW if the ball pitches outside the leg stump? We hope this article dispels all the false notions regarding the LBW law and articulately addresses the true reason behind why a batter can’t be dismissed LBW when the ball pitches outside leg.

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