Bowled

Bowled is one of the most popular words in a cricketer’s dictionary. It is used when the ball touches the wicket. In this case, there may be several scenarios.

The term “bowled” is ubiquitous in cricket, as any spectator worth their salt can tell you. Numerous cricket players and analysts make frequent use of it because it is one of those important words. It is a term that describes the event that occurs when the ball hits the wicket. On the other hand, as is the case with the majority of facets of cricket, there is a little bit more to it than that.

Bowled: Three Meanings

The term “bowled” often has three main connotations in cricket:

• Especially when the batter is protecting the wicket, delivery toward the stumps indicates that the bowler is sending the ball in that direction.
• When the ball hits the stumps right after being bowled, a situation known as “bowled out,” in which the batter is pronounced out, dismissal takes place.
• Meaning in scorekeeping: The term is used to specify the manner in which a batsman was out (e.g., bowled, leg before wicket, caught, stumped, or hit wicket), allowing statisticians and umpires to assign the dismissal to the right bowler.

Getting Bowled Out: A Closer Look

One of the most frequent methods for cricket players to be removed is by being “bowled out.” Approximately 21.4% of all dismissals between 1887 and 2012 occurred in this manner, second only to being caught. A batter cannot be bowled out if the delivery was a no-ball, wide, or dead ball, as stated in Law 32 of the official Laws of Cricket.

In which case are the players eliminated?

• It happens when the bowler properly throws the ball. The ball hits the stumps and knocks off the bails. It doesn’t matter if the ball hits the stumps, the hitter, the bat, their pads, or anything else before it hits the stumps. As soon as the sticks are hit and the bails are taken off, the batter is out.

It’s interesting that judges don’t usually have to decide what to do in this case. Usually, the hitter knows they’re out and doesn’t say anything.

There are also some variations on how this happens:

• Played on / Knocked on / Dragged on – The ball hits the bat first and then bounces onto the stumps.

• Clean bowled – The ball goes straight to the stumps without touching the batter at all.

• Through the gate – The ball sneaks between the bat and pad.

• Around the legs – The ball goes behind the batter, on the leg side, and hits the stumps.

Even if a batter isn’t bowled, there are other ways they can be dismissed. For instance, a fielder could catch the ball immediately after it misses the stumps.

Bowled: Record Holder

Muttiah Muralitharan was the best at getting wickets, still holding the record for most wickets in a single Test match. This Lankan player, who played from 1992 until 2011, scored over 530 runs in the One-Day Internationals (ODIs).

The amazing statistic that Muralitharan took nearly six wickets on average in every single match is quite remarkable. His bowling, however, sparked some debate. His odd arm extension was caused by a congenital defect, which also caused his totally unusual delivery method.

As a result, cricket authorities started discussing whether his action was legal. Fans were lucky to see one of the most unique and successful bowlers in the sport’s history following thorough examinations in the late 1990s.