What is Leg Before Wicket (LBW)?

Author:

David Genge

Last Updated on:

October 15, 2021

Topic:

Help

Experiences:

Sports Betting Guru

Topic:

Help

Experiences:

Sports Betting Guru

My foray into the world of sports betting was as a punter, primarily following the ups and downs (well, mostly downs…) of my local team as they battled against the ever-present threat of relegation. Over time, I began to become more and more interested in the ins and outs of various strategies and became adept at spotting a good operator.

My day job was, at the time, writing and editing for a local newspaper, so turning my professional skills to my interest in sports betting followed naturally. I started writing about sports betting as a hobby initially with my own blog, analysing odds and providing betting tips where I thought I could find value. Eventually, I was headhunted to write the same content for a betting firm, which resulted in me leaving my local paper job behind and turning my professional interests solely to sports betting writing by 2017. Since then, I have been proud of the body of work I have been able to produce.

Using my interest in all aspects of the sports and gambling world to guide me, I now write for Betting.net, compiling operator reviews, bonus reviews, and sharing the tips and tricks across our various sports betting guides. When I’m not at my keyboard, I am an avid rock climber, with an ultimate goal of eventually ascending the Seven Peaks — if I can fit it in between penning the latest bookmaker review, that is!

Leg Before Wicket – more commonly referred to as LBW – is one of the methods of dismissal a bowler can use against a batting player in a cricket match.

Less common that being caught or bowled, but more common than being stumped, an LBW decision is given when the umpire is of the belief that the batting player has obstructed a ball with the leg (or another part of the body) when it would have otherwise hit the wicket. The ball must also have pitched in line with the wicket (or on the off side of the stumps).

The term – and method of dismissal – applies in test matches, one-day matches and Twenty20 fixtures.

How is Leg Before Wicket used in Sports Betting?

As LBW is a method of dismissal it can be used as part of a number of different bets when it comes to cricket.

The method of dismissal bet focuses on a specified player and a little bit of research can tell bettors whether a player is more susceptible to being caught leg before wicket. There is also the opportunity to bet on the method of next wicket dismissal regardless of the player. If there are no further wickets this usually renders all bets void.

The odds of a leg before wicket dismissal are longer than other methods and can therefore seem more attractive.

Did you know…

In 1999 Australia hosted India and the hotly anticipated duel between Glenn McGrath and Sachin Tendulkar ended in controversy when Tendulkar was given out by LBW when the ball struck his shoulder. The umpire rightly decided that as Tendulkar was crouching in front of the stumps at the time it was LBW – even though the ball didn’t touch his leg.

See also…

Caught

Bowled

Stumped

Method of dismissal betting

Provider of the Month

What is Leg Before Wicket (LBW)?

Did you know…

Read Also

First Wicket Dismissal

What is Next Method of Dismissal?

What is the Method of Dismissal (Cricket)?

What is Caught (Cricket)?

What is Stumped (Cricket)?