An "lb" in cricket is actually referring to a leg bye, which is a type of run scored by the batting team without the batsman hitting the ball with their bat.
Understanding Leg Byes
How Leg Byes Occur
- According to Law 23 of the Laws of Cricket, a leg bye happens when:
- The ball hits the batsman's body or protective equipment.
- The ball does not touch the bat.
Key Points about Leg Byes
- Extra Runs: Leg byes are considered extra runs. They add to the team's total but not to the individual batter's score.
- Not a Boundary: Leg byes cannot contribute to a boundary (4 or 6 runs). They can only be single runs, two runs or more runs by the number of runs scored by the batsmen running between the wickets after the ball has touched the batsman.
- Not Credited to the Batsman: The runs are credited to the team's total but not to the specific batsman who was struck by the ball.
- No Dismissal: A batsman cannot be dismissed "out" through a leg bye.
Example
Imagine a scenario where a bowler delivers a ball that misses the bat and hits the batsman's leg. If the batsmen then runs between the wickets to score a run, that run will be recorded as a leg bye.
Leg Bye in Summary
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Leg Bye (lb) | A run scored when the ball hits the batsman's body, not the bat. |
| Source | Law 23 of the Laws of Cricket. |
| Scoring | Added to the team score, not the batsman's personal score. |
