Law 25 (Wide ball)
1. Judging a Wide
(a) If the bowler bowls a ball, not being a No ball, the umpire shall adjudge
it a Wide if, according to the definition in (b) below, in his opinion the ball
passes wide of the striker where he is standing and would also have passed wide
of him standing in a normal guard position.
(b) The ball will be considered as passing wide of the striker
unless it is sufficiently within his reach for him to be able
to hit it with his bat by means of a normal cricket stroke.
2. Delivery not a Wide
The umpire shall not adjudge a delivery as being a Wide
(a) if the striker, by moving,
either (i) causes the ball to pass wide of him, as defined in 1(b) above
or (ii) brings the ball sufficiently within his reach to be able to hit it
with his bat by means of a normal cricket stroke.
(b) if the ball touches the striker's bat or person.
3. Call and signal of Wide ball
(a) If the umpire adjudges a delivery to be a Wide he shall call and signal
Wide ball as soon as the ball passes the striker's wicket. It shall, however,
be considered to have been a Wide from the instant of delivery, even though
it cannot be called Wide until it passes the striker's wicket.
(b) The umpire shall revoke the call of Wide ball if there
is then any contact between the ball and the striker's bat
or person.
(c) The umpire shall revoke the call of Wide ball if a delivery
is called a No ball. See Law 24.10 (No ball to over-ride Wide).
4. Ball not dead
The ball does not become dead on the call of Wide ball.
5. Penalty for a Wide
A penalty of one run shall be awarded instantly on the call of Wide ball. Unless
the call is revoked (see 3 above), this penalty shall stand even if a batsman
is dismissed, and shall be in addition to any other runs scored, any boundary
allowance and any other penalties awarded.
6. Runs resulting from a Wide – how scored
All runs completed by the batsmen or a boundary allowance, together with the
penalty for the Wide, shall be scored as Wide balls. Apart from any award
of a 5 run penalty, all runs resulting from a Wide shall be debited against
the bowler.
7. Wide not to count
A Wide shall not count as one of the over. See Law 22.4 (Balls not to count
in the over).
8. Out from a Wide
When Wide ball has been called, neither batsman shall be out under any of the
Laws except 33 (Handled the ball), 35 (Hit wicket), 37 (Obstructing the field),
38 (Run out) or 39 (Stumped).