Hitting the ball twice and hit wicket

Law 34 — Deliberate second contact

Before a fielder has touched a live ball, the striker may not deliberately strike it again with bat or body after an initial bat or body contact, unless the sole purpose is to protect their wicket. A free hand is treated under obstructing the field instead. Hit the ball twice can apply even to a no ball.

A lawful defensive second strike must not prevent a fair catch. If a fielder interferes with a lawful second strike, the umpire calls dead ball, the striker is not dismissed and the ball counts in the over.

Law 34 — No runs for a lawful second strike

Runs cannot be scored from a ball lawfully struck again to protect the wicket. The umpire normally waits until a boundary or the first completed run to call dead ball, delaying further if necessary for a catch. Batters return to their original ends. A no-ball penalty and applicable 5-run penalties remain, except the fielding-helmet penalty.

Returning the ball to a fielder is not itself hit the ball twice, but doing so without a fielder’s consent can be obstructing the field. A deliberate strike after a fielder has touched the ball also falls outside Law 34 but may be obstruction. The bowler receives no wicket credit for hit the ball twice.

Law 35 — Breaking your own wicket

After the bowler enters the delivery stride, the striker can be hit wicket by breaking their wicket with bat or person while preparing for or receiving the delivery, recovering balance, immediately setting off for the first run, or lawfully making a defensive second strike. Before that delivery stride, breaking the wicket instead results in dead ball.

• Hit wicket does not apply to a no ball, or if the bowler does not deliver after entering the stride.
• It does not apply during later running, evading a throw, or trying to avoid run out or stumped.
• Detached equipment or a released bat that first contacts another person does not produce hit wicket. Nor does breaking the wicket with body or a held bat as a direct consequence of contact with a fielder.
• On a hit-wicket dismissal, only a wide’s 1-run penalty and any 5-run penalties can be scored.