Law 18: Scoring Runs
1. A run
The score shall be reckoned by runs. A run is scored
(a) so often as the batsmen, at any time while the ball is in play, have crossed and made good their ground from end to end.
(b) when a boundary is scored. See Law 19 (Boundaries).
(c) when penalty runs are awarded. See 6 below.
(d) when Lost ball is called. See Law 20 (Lost ball).
2. Runs disallowed
Notwithstanding 1 above, or any other provisions elsewhere in the Laws, the scoring of runs or awarding of penalties will be subject to any disallowance of runs provided for within the Laws that may be applicable.
3. Short runs
(a) A run is short if a batsman fails to make good his ground on turning for a further run.
(b) Although a short run shortens the succeeding one, the latter if completed shall not be regarded as short. A striker taking stance in front of his popping crease may run from that point also without penalty.
4. Unintentional short runs
Except in the circumstances of 5 below,
(a) if either batsman runs a short run, unless a boundary is scored the umpire concerned shall call and signal Short run as soon as the ball becomes dead and that run shall not be scored.
(b) if, after either or both batsmen runs short, a boundary is scored, the umpire concerned shall disregard the short running and shall not call or signal Short run.
(c) if both batsmen run short in one and the same run, this shall be regarded as only one short run.
(d) if more than one run is short then, subject to (b) and (c) above, all runs so called shall not be scored.
If there has been more than one short run the umpire shall inform the scorers as to the number of runs scored.
5. Deliberate short runs
(a) Notwithstanding 4 above, if either umpire considers that either or both batsmen deliberately run short at his end, the following procedure shall be adopted
(i) the umpire concerned shall, when the ball is dead, warn the batsman or batsmen that the practice is unfair, indicate that this is a first and final warning and inform the other umpire of what has occurred.
(ii) the batsmen shall return to their original ends.
(iii) whether a batsman is dismissed or not, the umpire at the bowler's end shall disallow all runs to the batting side from that delivery other than the penalty for a No ball or Wide, or penalties under Laws 42.5 (Deliberate distraction or obstruction of batsman) and 42.13 (Fielders damaging the pitch), if applicable.
(iv) the umpire at the bowler's end shall inform the scorers as to the number of runs scored.
(b) If there is any further instance of deliberate short running by either of the same batsmen in that innings, when the ball is dead, the umpire concerned shall inform the other umpire of what has occurred and the procedure set out in (a)(ii) and (iii) above shall be repeated. Additionally, the umpire at the bowler's end shall
(i) award 5 penalty runs to the fielding side. See Law 42.17 (Penalty runs).
(ii) inform the scorers as to the number of runs scored.
(iii) inform the batsmen, the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of the reason for this action.
(iv) report the occurrence, with the other umpire, to the Executive of the batting side and any Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and player or players concerned.
6. Runs scored for penalties
Runs shall be scored for penalties under 5 above and Law 2.6 (Player returning without permission), Law 24 (No ball), Law 25 (Wide ball), Law 41.2 (Fielding the ball), 41.3 (Protective helmets belonging to the fielding side) and Law 42 (Fair and unfair play).
7. Runs scored for boundaries
Runs shall be scored for boundary allowances under Law 19 (Boundaries).
8. Runs scored for Lost ball
Runs shall be scored when Lost ball is called under Law 20 (Lost ball).
9. Batsman dismissed
When either batsman is dismissed
(a) any penalties to either side that may be applicable shall stand but no other runs shall be scored, except as stated in 10 below. Note, however, Law 42.17(b) (Penalty runs).
(b) 12(a) below will apply if the method of dismissal is Caught, Handled the ball or Obstructing the field. 12(a) will also apply if a batsman is Run out, except in the circumstances of Law 2.8 (Transgression of the Laws by a batsman who has a runner) where 12(b) below will apply.
(c) the not out batsman shall return to his original end except as stated in (b) above.
10. Runs scored when a batsman is dismissed
In addition to any penalties to either side that may be applicable, if a batsman is
(a) dismissed Handled the ball, the batting side shall score the runs completed before the offence.
(b) dismissed Obstructing the field, the batting side shall score the runs completed before the offence.
If, however, the obstruction prevents a catch from being made, no runs other than penalties shall be scored.
(c) dismissed Run out, the batting side shall score the runs completed before the dismissal.
If, however, a striker with a runner is himself dismissed Run out, no runs other than penalties shall be scored. See Law 2.8 (Transgression of the Laws by a batsman who has a runner).
11. Runs scored when ball becomes dead
(a) When the ball becomes dead on the fall of a wicket, runs shall be scored as laid down in 9 and 10 above.
(b) When the ball becomes dead for any reason other than the fall of a wicket, or is called dead by an umpire, unless there is specific provision otherwise in the Laws, the batting side shall be credited with
(i) all runs completed by the batsmen before the incident or call
and (ii) the run in progress if the batsmen have crossed at the instant of the incident or call. Note specifically, however, the provisions of Law 34.4(c) (Runs from ball lawfully struck more than once) and Law 42.5(b)(iii) (Deliberate distraction or obstruction of batsman).
and (iii) any penalties that are applicable.
12. Batsman returning to wicket he has left
(a) If, while the ball is in play, the batsmen have crossed in running, neither shall return to the wicket he has left, except as in (b) below.
(b) The batsmen shall return to the wickets they originally left in the cases of, and only in the cases of
(i) a boundary;
(ii) disallowance of runs for any reason;
(ii) the dismissal of a batsman, except as in 9(b) above.
The score shall be reckoned by runs. A run is scored
(a) so often as the batsmen, at any time while the ball is in play, have crossed and made good their ground from end to end.
(b) when a boundary is scored. See Law 19 (Boundaries).
(c) when penalty runs are awarded. See 6 below.
(d) when Lost ball is called. See Law 20 (Lost ball).
2. Runs disallowed
Notwithstanding 1 above, or any other provisions elsewhere in the Laws, the scoring of runs or awarding of penalties will be subject to any disallowance of runs provided for within the Laws that may be applicable.
3. Short runs
(a) A run is short if a batsman fails to make good his ground on turning for a further run.
(b) Although a short run shortens the succeeding one, the latter if completed shall not be regarded as short. A striker taking stance in front of his popping crease may run from that point also without penalty.
4. Unintentional short runs
Except in the circumstances of 5 below,
(a) if either batsman runs a short run, unless a boundary is scored the umpire concerned shall call and signal Short run as soon as the ball becomes dead and that run shall not be scored.
(b) if, after either or both batsmen runs short, a boundary is scored, the umpire concerned shall disregard the short running and shall not call or signal Short run.
(c) if both batsmen run short in one and the same run, this shall be regarded as only one short run.
(d) if more than one run is short then, subject to (b) and (c) above, all runs so called shall not be scored.
If there has been more than one short run the umpire shall inform the scorers as to the number of runs scored.
5. Deliberate short runs
(a) Notwithstanding 4 above, if either umpire considers that either or both batsmen deliberately run short at his end, the following procedure shall be adopted
(i) the umpire concerned shall, when the ball is dead, warn the batsman or batsmen that the practice is unfair, indicate that this is a first and final warning and inform the other umpire of what has occurred.
(ii) the batsmen shall return to their original ends.
(iii) whether a batsman is dismissed or not, the umpire at the bowler's end shall disallow all runs to the batting side from that delivery other than the penalty for a No ball or Wide, or penalties under Laws 42.5 (Deliberate distraction or obstruction of batsman) and 42.13 (Fielders damaging the pitch), if applicable.
(iv) the umpire at the bowler's end shall inform the scorers as to the number of runs scored.
(b) If there is any further instance of deliberate short running by either of the same batsmen in that innings, when the ball is dead, the umpire concerned shall inform the other umpire of what has occurred and the procedure set out in (a)(ii) and (iii) above shall be repeated. Additionally, the umpire at the bowler's end shall
(i) award 5 penalty runs to the fielding side. See Law 42.17 (Penalty runs).
(ii) inform the scorers as to the number of runs scored.
(iii) inform the batsmen, the captain of the fielding side and, as soon as practicable, the captain of the batting side of the reason for this action.
(iv) report the occurrence, with the other umpire, to the Executive of the batting side and any Governing Body responsible for the match, who shall take such action as is considered appropriate against the captain and player or players concerned.
6. Runs scored for penalties
Runs shall be scored for penalties under 5 above and Law 2.6 (Player returning without permission), Law 24 (No ball), Law 25 (Wide ball), Law 41.2 (Fielding the ball), 41.3 (Protective helmets belonging to the fielding side) and Law 42 (Fair and unfair play).
7. Runs scored for boundaries
Runs shall be scored for boundary allowances under Law 19 (Boundaries).
8. Runs scored for Lost ball
Runs shall be scored when Lost ball is called under Law 20 (Lost ball).
9. Batsman dismissed
When either batsman is dismissed
(a) any penalties to either side that may be applicable shall stand but no other runs shall be scored, except as stated in 10 below. Note, however, Law 42.17(b) (Penalty runs).
(b) 12(a) below will apply if the method of dismissal is Caught, Handled the ball or Obstructing the field. 12(a) will also apply if a batsman is Run out, except in the circumstances of Law 2.8 (Transgression of the Laws by a batsman who has a runner) where 12(b) below will apply.
(c) the not out batsman shall return to his original end except as stated in (b) above.
10. Runs scored when a batsman is dismissed
In addition to any penalties to either side that may be applicable, if a batsman is
(a) dismissed Handled the ball, the batting side shall score the runs completed before the offence.
(b) dismissed Obstructing the field, the batting side shall score the runs completed before the offence.
If, however, the obstruction prevents a catch from being made, no runs other than penalties shall be scored.
(c) dismissed Run out, the batting side shall score the runs completed before the dismissal.
If, however, a striker with a runner is himself dismissed Run out, no runs other than penalties shall be scored. See Law 2.8 (Transgression of the Laws by a batsman who has a runner).
11. Runs scored when ball becomes dead
(a) When the ball becomes dead on the fall of a wicket, runs shall be scored as laid down in 9 and 10 above.
(b) When the ball becomes dead for any reason other than the fall of a wicket, or is called dead by an umpire, unless there is specific provision otherwise in the Laws, the batting side shall be credited with
(i) all runs completed by the batsmen before the incident or call
and (ii) the run in progress if the batsmen have crossed at the instant of the incident or call. Note specifically, however, the provisions of Law 34.4(c) (Runs from ball lawfully struck more than once) and Law 42.5(b)(iii) (Deliberate distraction or obstruction of batsman).
and (iii) any penalties that are applicable.
12. Batsman returning to wicket he has left
(a) If, while the ball is in play, the batsmen have crossed in running, neither shall return to the wicket he has left, except as in (b) below.
(b) The batsmen shall return to the wickets they originally left in the cases of, and only in the cases of
(i) a boundary;
(ii) disallowance of runs for any reason;
(ii) the dismissal of a batsman, except as in 9(b) above.
