Laws of Cricket 1947 Code (Second Edition) - Law 30

Law amended May 5th 1954 [see original]

Law 30 - Bye and Leg Bye

If the ball, not having been called "Wide" or "No Ball", pass the Striker without touching his bat or person, and any runs be obtained, the Umpire shall call or signal "Bye"; but if the ball touch any part of the Striker's dress or person except his hand holding the bat, and any run be obtained, the Umpire shall call or signal "Leg Bye"; such runs to be scored "Byes" and "Leg Byes" respectively.

Notes on Law 30

  1. The umpire shall regard the deliberate deflection of the ball by any part of the striker's person, except the hand holding the bat, as unfair, and as soon as he is satisfied tha the fielding side have no chance of dismissing either batsman as an immediate result of such action, he shall, without delay, call "Dead Ball". In deciding whether such deflection is deliberate the criterion shall be whether or not the batsman has attempted to play the ball with his bat. [previous version]
  2. The umpire signals "Bye" by raising an open hand above the head, and "Leg Bye" by touching a raised knee with the hand.


Previous Note 1

  1. Leg byes which result from the unintentional deflection of the ball by any part of the striker's person, other than the hand holding the bat, whether he has played at the ball or not, are fair. If the umpire is not entirely satisfied that the act was unintentional he shall call "Dead Ball" as soon as he sees that the fielding side have no chance of dismissing either batsman as an immediate result of such deflection. [previous version]
The note was changed to the version above in May 1965.


Previous Note 1
  1. The umpire shall regard the deliberate kicking or "kneeing" of the ball by the striker as unfair, and as soon as he is satisfied that the fielding side have no chance of dismissing either batsman as an immediate result of such action, he shall, without delay, call "Dead Ball" in accordance with [Law 25] no runs shall be allowed.

The note was changed to the version above sometime late 1955 or early 1956.


Original Law 30

If the ball, not having been called "Wide" or "No Ball", pass the Striker without touching his bat or person, and any runs be obtained, the Umpire shall call or signal "Bye"; but if the ball touch any part of the Striker's dress or person except his hand, and any run be obtained, the Umpire shall call or signal "Leg Bye"; such runs to be scored "Byes" and "Leg Byes" respectively.

Notes on Law 30

  1. The umpire shall regard the deliberate kicking or "kneeing" of the ball by the striker as unfair, and shall immediately call "Dead Ball" in accordance with [Law 25] no runs shall be allowed.
  2. The umpire signals "Bye" by raising an open hand above the head, and "Leg Bye" by touching a raised knee with the hand.

Reproduction of the Laws of Cricket is by kind permission of Marylebone Cricket Club

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