Top 10 Weird Cricket Rules That Will Blow Your Mind

Cricket is a gentleman’s game, but some of its rules have confused players and fans over the years. There are many strange rules that exist in the sport that most people don’t even know about, including those regarding “dead ball” situations, helmets, double hits, and even “timed out” dismissals.

Let’s dive into the top 10 weirdest cricket rules that you might find unbelievable, yet they are part of the official game.

10. The Spidercam Rule – When Technology Interferes

Modern cricket is full of technology like the spidercam, which gives us stunning aerial views. But what if a ball in the air strikes the spidercam?

In a T20 match between India and Australia, Glenn Maxwell’s shot off Krunal Pandya hit the spidercam. It looked like an easy catch for India, but according to the laws of cricket, if the ball in play hits an external object inside the ground except helmets on the ground, it is considered a dead ball.

This rule falls under Law 20 – Dead Ball. Specifically, Law 20.1.2.4 states:

“The ball shall be deemed to be dead when it is struck while in play and, while still in the air, it makes contact with any obstruction or person not a fielder.”

9. Double Hit – Hit the ball twice

ICC rules state that a batsman cannot deliberately hit the ball twice with the bat. However, there are exceptions:

• If the ball is rolling towards the stumps after hitting the bat, the batter can hit it again only to stop being bowled out.
• But they cannot run or gain an unfair advantage

Law 34.1 — Hit the ball twice: If, while the ball is in play, the striker deliberately strikes the ball a second time with their bat or body (not including a hand holding the bat), they are out — unless the second strike was only to protect their stumps.

8. No Appeal = No Out

Even if a batter is clearly out, the umpire cannot give them out unless the fielding side appeals.

In an Australia vs. West Indies match, a batter was run out, but the Aussies forgot to appeal. The umpire let the play continue, and the batter stayed not out. When the replay showed the dismissal, Australia protested, but the umpire reminded them: “No appeal, no out.”

7. Lost Ball = Dead Ball

ICC Law 20.4.2.10 says if the ball goes missing inside the boundary and cannot be found, it is declared dead, and the batting side only gets the runs they completed before the ball was lost.

This rule was more relevant in the past, when grounds had uneven grass where the ball could genuinely get lost. Today it feels bizarre, but it still exists.

6. Overthrows & Extra Runs

The 2019 ODI World Cup Final between England and New Zealand saw one of the strangest applications of a rule. Ben Stokes dived to save himself from being run out, but the throw deflected off his bat and went for four. Umpires awarded six runs (two they ran + four from the boundary).

But Law 19.8 clarifies that only runs completed at the time of the fielder’s throw should count. Since Stokes and Rashid hadn’t crossed, it should have been five, not six. That one run could have changed the champion — maybe New Zealand would’ve lifted the trophy instead of England.

5. Ball Hits Helmet = 5 Penalty Runs

If the ball hits a fielder’s or wicketkeeper’s helmet lying on the ground, the batting side automatically gets five penalty runs.

In a New Zealand A vs Bangladesh A match, the ball struck the keeper’s helmet, gifting five extra runs.

So why do keepers still leave helmets behind?

• Against fast bowlers, they stand far back and don’t need helmets.
• Against spinners, they keep helmets nearby to avoid repeated trips off the field.

4. Retired Out vs Retired Hurt

We are all familiar with the concept of a player returning from retirement hurt, where they can return later after an injury. But there’s another rule: retired out.

In this case, a player leaves the pitch on their own, not because of an injury, and can’t bat again.

For example, in IPL 2025, Tilak Varma of the Mumbai Indians retired against the Lucknow Super Giants after having trouble scoring runs.

3. Withdrawal of Appeal Rule

Law 31.7 of cricket has a rare “good spirit” rule that lets the fielding team drop their appeal even after the umpire has called the batter out.Cricket has a rare “good spirit” law under Law 31.7: the fielding side can withdraw their appeal even after the umpire has given the batter out.

Well-known cases:

• In the Asia Cup 2025, Suryakumar Yadav dropped his appeal against Oman when Shivam Dube was bowling and the batter was clearly out.

2. Heavy LED Bails and Unlucky Bowlers

When the ball hits the stumps but the bails don’t fall, bowlers often feel unlucky. The rules say that a batter is only out if at least one bail falls off.

LED bails today are heavier, which makes these kinds of things happen more often. Bowlers like to whine, but that’s just how cricket is these days.

Famous Case:

• In Big Cricket League 2025, the Batter tried to hit the ball, and the ball hit the stumps, but the bails did not come off, and that was not out.

1. Obstructing the Field (Formerly Handled the Ball)

Obstructing the Field means that a batter is out if they intentionally stop the ball with their hand while outside the crease.

Examples:

• Salman Ali Agha stopped the ball against India in the Asia Cup 2025 when Suryakumar tried to run him out.
• Ben Stokes once stopped a throw with his hand and was declared out.
• Mushfiqur Rahim has also been dismissed this way.

Earlier, this was called “Handled the Ball”, but since 2017, it has been merged into Obstructing the Field.

Other Weird Cricket Rules 2025

• Timed Out: A new batter has just 3 minutes to take guard. If not ready, they can be given “timed out.” Example: Angelo Mathews vs Bangladesh, 2023. His helmet strap broke, and Bangladesh appealed — he became the first batter in cricket history to be timed out.
• Kicking the Ball = 5 Runs: Fielders cannot deliberately kick the ball over the boundary. Virender Sehwag once did this, and India was penalized five runs.
• Body Before Wicket (BBW): LBW doesn’t just apply to legs. Any part of the body (shoulder, chest, etc.) that blocks the ball in line with the stumps can lead to dismissal. Even Sachin Tendulkar was once given out this way against Glenn McGrath.