SRSport Rules
Cricket

LBW, in the right order.

LBW confuses people because several checks happen one after another. If one check fails, the batter is not out, even if another part of the appeal looks strong.

Quick ruling: the umpire checks where the ball pitched, where it hit the batter, whether a shot was offered, and whether the ball would have gone on to hit the stumps.
Decision path

How the umpire checks it

  1. Did the ball pitch in line with the stumps or on the off side, not outside leg stump?
  2. Did it hit the batter in line with the stumps, or outside off when no real shot was offered?
  3. If the batter played a genuine shot, impact outside off can still matter. Impact outside leg cannot be out LBW.
  4. Would the ball have gone on to hit the stumps?
  5. If all the needed parts are satisfied, the batter is out LBW.
What changes it

Details fans miss most

  • Pitching outside leg ends it: once that happens, there is no LBW.
  • Impact and pitching are different checks: people often mix them together.
  • Playing a shot matters: the law treats some outside-off impact situations differently if a shot was offered.
  • Umpire's call can keep the on-field decision: close ball-tracking results do not always overturn the original call.
Common argument

"It was hitting middle"

That is only one part of LBW. The ball can be hitting the stumps and still be not out if it pitched outside leg stump or hit the batter in the wrong place under the law.