A ball can be dead even when nobody has called “dead ball” aloud. What matters is whether one of the conditions in the Law has happened.
When everyone thinks play has ended
Under the 2026 edition, a ball may be considered finally settled when it is held by any fielder or is stationary on the ground, provided the bowler’s-end umpire judges it is no longer in play. It does not have to be in the bowler’s or wicketkeeper’s hands. The ball also becomes dead in other situations set out in Law 20, such as certain dismissals and boundary events.
What happens after the call
For example, a fielder picks up a stopped ball, the batters have stopped running and the umpire decides play has ended. The ball may be dead. But a fielder briefly holding the ball does not always end a live run-out chance.
The 2026 wording matters
Once the ball is dead, batters cannot add ordinary runs by starting another run. Scorers should follow the umpire’s decision on the precise point when play ended.
These examples explain the general MCC Laws. International matches and local competitions can use different playing conditions. For an official decision, check the full law and the rules for your match.
Check the official law
MCC reference: Law 20, 2017 Code, 4th Edition (2026). Read the official MCC Laws of Cricket.
Open the interactive Cricket Laws Centre →Cricstars independent learning resource · Source edition: MCC 2026 · Prepared 21 October 2026. Not an official MCC or ICC ruling.