This rule was introduced when players realised that it was more productive to kick the ball rather than play it using the bat, because no-one may be caught out thereby (rule 2 above).




The following criteria must be satisfied for LBW to be called (see diagrammatograph):

The line of the leg-stump (the path of the ball) must intersect with the player's leg, groin or knee (a).

The ball must bounce once before rising upwards, and must be heading towards the middle wicket, taking account of the direction it is spinning. The player's groin must be facing the knacker's edge in the case of a full toss (cock inwards, as in a).

In the case of g, where the ball pitches (bounces) outside the edge of an imaginary line drawn between cock and knee (b), it must be following a path towards the opposite side (left (right) side from the batsman's point of view).

If the ball pitches inside the edge of an imaginary line drawn between top of bat and bottom of forward foot (shown back-to-front in c), player is out only if the ball goes on to hit opposite leg.

Drawing e shows the reverse case. This is not-out because the forward foot remains within leg-stump and well behind pitch point.

If the batsman makes an attempt to hit the ball as in d and f, and rule 6 above applies, player is out in any case.

If the ball pitches twice, and the second pitch lands in the fourth dimension (f), rule 8 applies whether the batter attempts a knock-on, full-swipe or pixie-flick.

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Okay, now you understand "lbw." But can you decipher this:

"Kallis pushed Sri Lanka onto the back foot with his aggressive approach, especially against Muralitharan, whom he slog-swept for several boundaries before the off spinner tempted him into another that he mistimed and skied a catch to Kumar Sangakkara at mid-wicket."



Perhaps this will be of assistance:

"Kallis (the bowler) made the batsman for Sri Lanka step backwards..."
A batsman usually plays into the ball, so it must have been fast and spinning into him. Possibly a Googlie.

"...especially against Muralitharan, whom he slog-swept for several boundaries..."
The batsman for Ski Lanka was getting sixes by hitting them to the boundary in a hooking style.

"...before the off spinner tempted him into another that he mistimed and skied a catch to Kumar Sangakkara at mid-wicket."
The bowler spun a wicked ball at the batsman and the mid-wicket fielder (in between the two wickets to the left and right) caught a bad skyward hit from the batsman and the git was OUT!

All terribly exciting stuff if you've run out of boogies to pick.

(Our especial thanks to Mr. G.J.P. for his generous and insightful elucidation on the above topic!)