Whenever the ball in play touches or crosses the boundary, four runs are scored. If the ball clears the boundary or touches the boundary on its fall, then six runs are scored even if a fielder has touched the ball previously. Remember, a six is scored only if the ball is hit by the bat or glove, not otherwise.

Before the toss, it may be agreed as to how many runs will be scored if the ball crosses the line. In case of short boundaries, the agreement may require say two runs. But it is customary for four runs to be added to the score. The local playing conditions at a ground need to be observed.
 

This may be necessary to protect the glass windows in the neighbourhood! Big hitting is generally discouraged in that area to avoid paying compensation!

Something that rarely happens is the batsmen completing five or more runs before the ball crosses the boundary. If this does happen, five runs are counted and not four. This once happened at the Adelaide Oval during the 1991-92 series between India and Australia when Venkatapathy Raju and Javagal Srinath ran five.

Once in a Test Match between England and South Africa in 1947-48, Len Hutton willfully kicked a ball over the boundary to avoid the South African batsmen from crossing off the last ball of an over. This was done as a better batsman was shielding a tail-ender. The Umpire rightly awarded five runs, one run as the batsmen had crossed, plus the boundary allowance. Hutton's ploy failed.

If there is an overthrow and the ball reaches the boundary, then whatever runs completed (read 'crossed') plus boundary are counted. I remember umpiring a game in a local Bank Shield tournament at Shivaji Park wherein there were two overthrows. After the batsmen had crossed for the fourth run, the third overthrow ended up in a boundary. So we signalled to the scorers as eight runs. The fielding side was fuming. They said they had never heard of this before. Then I politely explained, "Well, if you weren't aware of this, atleast you are aware now! Thank You!"

If the batting team needs less than four runs to win, and the ball results in a boundary either through a hit or extras, then four runs are to be added to the score. But if the batsmen happen to 'run' and complete the required two or three runs before the ball reaches the boundary, then the boundary allowance of four runs will be declared null and void. This may prevent a batsman from completing his century if he was batting on 96 or 97. Bad luck!

If a fielder stops a ball near the boundary and in the act of the throwing it to the wicketkeeper, the ball slips from his hand and rolls over the boundary-line, then this constitutes as an overthrow and four runs shall be added to any runs completed till the time the ball slips out of his hand. The third umpire started being called upon to help the field umpires in determining sixes or fours if they were close calls after the 1996 World Cup. Earlier, the field umps had to sort it out themselves by trusting the closest fielder. The crowd's reaction could often be deceptive in judging the merit of the shot. So the third umpire was a blessing, something that your's truly had advocated a couple of years ago i.e. in 1994. I was one of the many who believed that the slow-motion replays could be watched to ascertain whether a fielder had made any contact with the ball while touching the boundary rope.

Many people are under the impression that a batsman will get a six even if the ball ricochets off his helmet or body. But it is not so. A six can be awarded to only a 'clean' hit off the bat or glove. There cannot be 'six' extras.

- By Piloo Reporter