GUIDES · BETSLIP DOCTOR
May a striker hit the ball a second time solely to protect the wicket?
Under the standard ICC men’s conditions, a striker may lawfully strike the ball again solely to guard the wicket if no fielder has touched it. A wilful second strike for another purpose can be Hit the ball twice, including on a No ball; the protective exception is narrow and cannot be used to stop a catch on an ordinary delivery. Ordinary runs from a lawful second strike are disallowed, although the playing conditions preserve applicable penalty awards. If a fielder has touched the ball, or the striker returns it, separate obstruction clauses may apply.
For Cricket viewers deciding why a second bat contact can be lawful without allowing ordinary runs · Updated
The lawful purpose is only to guard the wicket
Before a fielder touches the ball, the striker may make a second or later strike solely to protect the wicket. The permitted contact can be with the bat or the striker’s person, except a hand that is not holding the bat is outside the stated Hit-the-ball-twice contact category.
A wilful second strike with the bat or person for another purpose can be Hit the ball twice. The rule applies whether or not the delivery is called No ball. Using a free hand is not a general safe harbour from other conduct rules.
The exception does not create ordinary runs
Runs may not ordinarily be scored from a lawful second strike. The conditions still preserve applicable penalties, including the delivery’s No-ball penalty and specified five-run penalties, subject to the stated exception for the fielding-helmet penalty under clause 28.3.
On an ordinary delivery, the striker may not use a defensive second strike to prevent a catch. The No-ball conditions contain a separate clause 37.3.3 exception for lawful wicket defence; do not apply the ordinary-delivery catch restriction universally without checking that clause.
A fielder’s touch changes which rule to check
If a fielder interferes with a legal defensive second strike, clause 34.3 says the ball is Dead, the striker is not dismissed, and the ball counts in the over. That is a specific branch.
After a fielder has touched the ball, the Hit-the-ball-twice classification may no longer be the right question; obstruction can still apply. Separately, either batter may be out Obstructing the field for returning a live ball to a fielder without that fielder’s consent. Those are distinct checks under clauses 37.1 and 37.4.
Use the conditions that govern the match
This page describes the October 2026 standard ICC men’s ODI and T20I clauses. The ICC says the revised edition applies to international series beginning on or after 1 October 2026; ongoing series retain prior regulations. The date does not establish that every clause is new.
Event-specific rules and the exact sequence of contact matter. The fictional example below is not a decision about a real batter or appeal.
A ball rolling back toward the stumps
In a fictional non-No-ball delivery, the batter first hits the ball and it rolls toward the striker’s stumps before any fielder touches it. Stipulate that the striker uses a second held-bat contact solely to guard the wicket and does not prevent a catch. That is the lawful defensive exception, but ordinary runs from that strike are disallowed. If the same second stroke is deliberately made to send the ball into the outfield for another purpose, the protective exception does not apply. No intent finding about a real player is made.
Related questions
Can the batter make a defensive second strike on a No ball?
Yes. The standard clause allows wicket defence before fielder contact even on a No ball; it does not allow a second strike for another purpose.
Can a lawful defensive second strike stop a catch?
Not on an ordinary delivery. Clause 37.3.3 provides a separate No-ball exception for lawful wicket defence, so the two cases should not be collapsed.
Sources and further reading
- ICC Men’s One-Day International Playing Conditions, clauses 34.1–34.5 printed page 53 and clauses 37.3.3–37.4 printed page 56
- ICC Men’s Twenty20 International Playing Conditions, clauses 34.1–34.5 printed page 52 and clauses 37.3.3–37.4 printed page 55
- ICC media release on revised playing conditions and series applicability, 1 October 2026