Expert: Kunal Ganju - 7/5/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
hope you can help me. After the ball has been bowled to batsman 'a' for example, he hits the ball behind him, who should call for the run? and if batsman b calls for the run, but batsman 'a' refuses who is in the right?

ANSWER: Hi Barry

Thank you for your question. Since both batsmen need to complete the run, they both have a say in whether or not they run. The way it usually works is that if the ball is played in front of square [in front of the batsman on either side of the wicket] then it is the striker's call. If the ball is played behind the wicket then typically the non-striker calls for the run. However, either batsman can refuse the run if they don't think they will make it.

So in the example you've described the batsman B has the right to call the run, but if A thinks they won't be able to complete the run he is right to refuse the run.

Hope this helps.
Kunal

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: hi Kunal,
Thank you very much for taking the time to answer.

The last part then, if batsman A does nor run at all, and has refused out loud, and batsman b runs, has batmans b run himself out?
kind regards
Barry

Answer
Hi Barry

Yes, if A (the striker) refuses the run and then B (the non-striker) runs anyway, then B will be run out, provided the the fielding puts down the wicket at the non-striker's end when B is out of his crease. In general, if a batsman does not leave his crease then he can't be run out.

And just to clarify, the run out doesn't have anything to do with the calling of the run. While calling is used to communicate between batsmen, the decision of who is run out is based purely on the position of the batsman relative to each other when the wicket is put down. If A and B had both run, and the wicket was put down at the non-striker's end then B would be run out if the batsmen had not crossed each other and A would have been out if they had crossed each other.

Hope this helps
Kunal