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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsUnder current ICC playing conditions, an incoming batter can be given out Timed out if the batter is not ready within the prescribed time after a wicket falls or a batter retires, unless Time has been called. The limit is two minutes in the men’s Test and ODI conditions and 90 seconds in the men’s and women’s T20I conditions reviewed here. The conditions for the specific competition govern the match.
What does “Timed out” mean in cricket?
Timed out is a dismissal that can apply when a new batter does not meet the readiness requirement after a wicket falls or a batter retires. The incoming batter must be ready to receive the ball within the applicable time limit, unless Time has been called. The rule also allows the other batter to be ready to receive the next ball within that period.
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Simply reaching the field or standing at the wicket is not necessarily enough. MCC explains that the batter must be in position for the bowler to be able to bowl. The ICC T20I conditions also expect the incoming batter to start moving to the wicket immediately after a wicket falls. MCC’s explanation of the readiness test describes the distinction.
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If the batter fails to meet the requirement and the conditions for the dismissal are satisfied, the incoming batter is out Timed out. The bowler is not credited with the wicket.
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How long does a batter have to come in?
The time limit depends on the playing conditions for the match. The current ICC editions listed in its playing-conditions index set these periods:
| Match conditions | Time limit |
|---|---|
| Men’s Test | Two minutes |
| Men’s ODI | Two minutes |
| Men’s T20I | One minute, 30 seconds |
| Women’s T20I | One minute, 30 seconds |
The ICC men’s Test wording says the incoming batter must, unless Time has been called, be ready to receive the ball—or the other batter ready to receive the next ball—within two minutes of the dismissal or retirement. The men’s T20I wording uses the same test but sets the period at one minute and 30 seconds.
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Which playing conditions apply to a particular match?
Use the conditions governing the actual competition and match, rather than assuming every match follows one universal ICC time limit. An ICC event may have its own playing conditions, and MCC’s Laws do not necessarily set the operative limit for an ICC international. Check the relevant competition’s current rules before applying the figures above to a specific match.
Does equipment trouble stop the timer?
Not automatically. The ICC condition makes the requirement subject to Time having been called. MCC’s explanation of the Angelo Mathews incident says that, if umpires are told of a significant and justifiable equipment delay within the allowance, they may treat it as a separate interruption and call Time so the issue can be resolved. Whether that happens depends on what the umpires are told and decide; equipment trouble alone is not an automatic exemption.
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Why was Angelo Mathews timed out?
On 6 November 2023, in the Cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Bangladesh appealed after Mathews was not ready within the event’s two-minute period. Mathews said his helmet strap came off as he prepared to face his first ball. In its account of the incident, the ICC reported that fourth official Adrian Holdstock said the time limit had already elapsed before the strap came off.
MCC’s account says the umpires found Mathews had not been ready within the two-minute allowance and that Time had not been called before the appeal. The case illustrates why being at the wicket is not the whole test: the batter must be ready for the bowler to deliver.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happens if no batter comes to the wicket?
For an extended delay in which no batter comes to the wicket, the current ICC Test conditions direct umpires to the ICC match-referee procedure for awarding a match, treating expiry of the time limit as the beginning of that procedure. This is distinct from simply deciding whether the incoming batter is ready under the Timed out dismissal provision.
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