After a run, a catch or the end of an over, which batter faces?
I · Intermediate · How are runs scored? · 11 of 19The batter at the striker's end faces the next ball. Running an odd number of runs swaps the batters, and the end of an over swaps the bowling end. After a catch, the new batter comes to the striker's end and faces next, whether or not the batters crossed. After a run out, the batters' positions depend on whether they had crossed.
How it works
- Each completed run moves each batter to the other end. One or three runs swap who is on strike; two or four do not.
- At the end of each over, the bowling switches to the other end, so the batter at that end faces.
- After a boundary, the batters go back to the ends they started from, unless it came from an overthrow.
- After bowled, caught, LBW, stumped, hit wicket or hit the ball twice, the not-out batter goes back to their original end. So the new batter takes the striker's end.
- After a run out, the not-out batter goes to the end they were running from if the batters had not crossed, or stays where they are if they had.
Tricky cases
Who faces after a catch if the batters crossed?
The new batter. Crossing makes no difference after a catch.
Who faces after a catch off the last ball of an over?
The other batter, at the other end. The over has ended, so the bowling switches ends, and the new batter starts at the non-striker's end.
Who faces after a run out?
It depends on whether the batters had crossed when the wicket was broken.
Who faces after a deliberate short run?
The fielding captain chooses.
Who faces after fake fielding?
The batters choose.
Why the rule exists
The striker's end follows where the batters ended up. The catch rule stops a batting side gaining an advantage by crossing while a catch is in the air.
Where it differs
Nothing. The same in the Laws and in the ICC men's playing conditions.
From the rule book
MCC Laws of Cricket, Laws 18.11 to 18.13 and 17.4, 4th Edition, in force from 1 October 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: MCC Laws of Cricket (PDF).