Striker / Non-Striker in Cricket

The two batters at the crease — the striker faces the bowling, the non-striker waits at the other end.

What is a Striker / Non-Striker?

At any moment, two batters are on the field, but only one, the striker, is actually facing the ball. The non-striker stands near the bowler's end, backing up, ready to run the moment the striker makes contact. They swap ends, and therefore swap roles, every time they complete an odd number of runs, or at the end of an over.

In play

Striker taps a single to mid-wicket and they cross — he's now the non-striker, and the batter who was quietly backing up is suddenly facing the hat-trick ball.

More laws terms

• OverA set of six legal deliveries bowled from one end, after which a different bowler takes over from the other end.
• BoundaryThe rope marking the edge of the playing field — and the four or six runs scored when the ball reaches or crosses it.
• Run OutA dismissal where a batter fails to reach a crease before the fielding side breaks the stumps at that end.
• StumpedA dismissal where the wicketkeeper breaks the stumps while the batter is out of their crease, without a run being attempted.
• CaughtA dismissal where a fielder catches the ball on the full after it comes off the bat, before it touches the ground.
• LBWLeg Before Wicket — out when the ball strikes the pad and would have hit the stumps.