Leg Side Wide in Cricket
| Aspect | Description |
|---|---|
| Definition | A leg-side wide is an illegal delivery bowled in cricket where the ball passes the batsman on the leg side of the pitch and is out of the reach of the batsman. It is considered wide because the ball is too far from the batsman to play a shot. The umpire signals a leg side wide by extending one arm horizontally and calling it “wide.” The batting side is awarded an extra run for the wide, and the delivery is not counted in the bowler’s over. Leg-side wides are meant to prevent bowlers from consistently bowling down the leg side to avoid legitimate scoring opportunities for the batsman. |
| Umpire’s Signal | The on-field umpire signals a leg-side wide by extending one arm horizontally, away from the body, while keeping the other arm close to the body. This signal indicates to the scorers and players that the delivery is considered wide, and an additional run is awarded to the batting side. The bowler’s over does not count the wide delivery. |
| Impact on the Game | Leg side wides can have a significant impact on the game. For the batting side, it results in the addition of extra runs to the team’s score without requiring the batsman to play a shot. Additionally, wides can disrupt the bowler’s rhythm and confidence, providing an advantage to the batting side. However, consistent wides can lead to extra runs and extra deliveries, affecting a bowler’s economy rate and the team’s total. |
| Bowler’s Challenge | Bowlers often face the challenge of maintaining line and length to avoid wides. While they may aim to bowl close to the leg stump, the risk of straying too far down the leg side and conceding wides remains. Bowlers need to find the right balance to avoid wides while still creating pressure on the batsman. |
| No-ball vs. Leg Side Wide | It is essential to differentiate between a no-ball and a leg-side wide. A no-ball is an illegal delivery where the bowler oversteps the popping crease or delivers a bouncer above the shoulder. In contrast, a leg-side wide is called when the ball is bowled too wide down the leg side, regardless of the bowler’s foot positioning. A no-ball results in a free hit, while a leg-side wide earns an additional run for the batting side. Both wides and no-balls are considered negative deliveries for the bowling side. |
Explanation:
A leg-side wide in cricket is an illegal delivery that passes the batsman on the leg side of the pitch and is too far for the batsman to play a shot. It is called a wide because it is outside the acceptable range for the batsman to reach. The umpire signals a leg side wide by extending one arm horizontally and calls it “wide.” The batting side is awarded an extra run for the wide, and the delivery is not counted in the bowler’s over.
Leg-side wides are intended to prevent bowlers from consistently bowling down the leg side to avoid legitimate scoring opportunities for the batsman. While wides provide extra runs to the batting side, they can also disrupt the bowler’s rhythm and confidence, creating an advantage for the batting team.
For bowlers, avoiding wides is a challenge. They need to find the right balance to maintain line and length without straying too far down the leg side. Consistent wides can affect a bowler’s economy rate and team’s total negatively.
It is crucial to differentiate between a no-ball and a leg-side wide. A no-ball occurs when the bowler oversteps the crease or delivers a bouncer above the shoulder, resulting in a free hit for the batsman. On the other hand, a leg-side wide is called when the ball is bowled too wide down the leg side, earning an additional run for the batting side. Both wides and no-balls are considered negative deliveries for the bowling side, and bowlers need to be mindful of their positioning and line to avoid such extras.