If you searched five penalty runs, you probably saw an umpire make a rare signal and suddenly add five runs without the batters hitting a boundary. That moment confuses many fans because it does not look like a normal run, a no-ball, or a wide. In cricket, five penalty runs are a special punishment or reward under the Laws when one side breaks an important rule. Sometimes the batting side gets them. Sometimes the fielding side gets them. And in some matches, those five runs have changed the mood, the score, and even the controversy of the whole game.
This article is about the rare five-run penalty, not the normal one-run extra for a no-ball or wide. Under the current MCC Laws, five penalty runs can come from unfair fielding, fake fielding, ball tampering, a helmet on the ground, deliberate short runs, wasting time, damaging the pitch, player misconduct, and a few other special situations.
What do five penalty runs mean in cricket?
Five penalty runs are runs given by the umpire because one side has broken a law badly enough to deserve a direct five-run punishment. The laws also explain how those runs are added. If the batting side gets them, they are scored as Penalty extras and are added while the ball is dead. If the fielding side gets them, they are added as penalty extras to that side’s most recently completed innings, or to its next innings if it has not yet batted.
An important detail is that the laws require penalty runs to be awarded even if a result has already been reached. That shows how serious the law treats these offences.
Also Read More About: One Day International (ODI) 50 0vers Rules: 2026 and History
How does the umpire signal five penalty runs?
When five penalty runs are awarded to the batting side, the umpire repeatedly taps one shoulder with the opposite hand. When five penalty runs are awarded to the fielding side, the umpire places one hand on the opposite shoulder. That is why TV commentators often shout “five penalty runs” even before the scoreboard updates.
When does the batting side get five penalty runs?
The batting side can get five penalty runs in several different ways.
1) A fielder comes back without permission and touches the ball
If a player returns to the field without the umpire’s permission and then comes into contact with the ball while it is in play, the ball becomes dead and the batting side gets five penalty runs. Any completed runs also count if the batters had already crossed in time.
2) Illegal fielding with an object, glove, cap, or clothing
A fielder is allowed to field the ball with the body, but not by using an object, extending clothing, or throwing away equipment that then touches the ball. If that happens, the ball becomes dead and the batting side gets five penalty runs. The law also says it is not illegal if an item fell accidentally and then happened to be struck by the ball. That difference is very important.
Real match story:
A strong real example came in the second ODI between Pakistan and West Indies at Multan in June 2022. Pakistan captain Babar Azam used one of Mohammad Rizwan’s wicketkeeping gloves while fielding behind the stumps. That was ruled illegal fielding, and West Indies were awarded five penalty runs. This is one of the clearest modern examples of a team being punished for using equipment instead of a normal part of the body to field the ball.
3) The ball hits the fielding side’s spare helmet on the ground
This is one of the most famous five-run situations. If the fielding side’s protective helmet is lying in the permitted place behind the wicketkeeper and in line with the stumps, and the ball in play hits it, the ball becomes dead and the batting side gets five penalty runs.
Real match story:
A very clear recent example came in Bangladesh A vs New Zealand A in May 2025. Bangladesh A wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan stood unusually wide, almost like a slip fielder, while his helmet stayed behind the stumps. The ball then hit the helmet on the ground, and the umpires immediately awarded five penalty runs to New Zealand A. This incident became popular because it showed exactly how costly a badly placed spare helmet can be.
Also Read More About: Updated T20 Rules (Powerplays, Fielding, DRS
4) Unfair movement by the wicketkeeper
If the wicketkeeper makes unfair movement before the striker receives the ball, the umpire can call dead ball and award five penalty runs to the batting side.
Real match story:
A famous example came in the T20 World Cup match between Bangladesh and South Africa in 2022. Bangladesh wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan was judged to have moved unfairly behind the stumps before the striker received the ball. Because of that movement, South Africa were awarded five penalty runs. It was one of the rare modern top-level cases where this wicketkeeper law was actually enforced.
5) A fielder deliberately distracts the striker before the ball is received
If a fielder deliberately tries to distract the striker while the batter is preparing to receive or receiving the ball, the umpire calls dead ball and awards five penalty runs to the batting side. Neither batter can be dismissed from that delivery.
Real match story:
I could not find a clearly documented top-level match where umpires actually awarded five penalty runs for this exact offence. The law absolutely exists, but it is very rarely enforced in major cricket. A recent talking point came at Edgbaston in 2025, when Brydon Carse raised questions about whether he had tried to distract Shubman Gill, but no five-run penalty was given.
6) Fake fielding, deception, or obstruction after the striker has received the ball
This is the law many fans now call the fake fielding rule. If a fielder deliberately deceives, distracts, or obstructs either batter after the striker has received the ball, the umpire can award five penalty runs to the batting side. The ball does not count, the run in progress can still count, and the batters decide who faces the next ball.
Real match story:
One of the best examples came in the JLT One-Day Cup in Australia in September 2017, when Queensland’s Marnus Labuschagne became one of the first players punished under the modern fake-fielding rule. The umpires ruled that his action was deceptive, and five penalty runs were awarded to the batting side, Cricket Australia XI. This case became famous because it was one of the first real match applications of the updated fake-fielding law.
Also Read More About: Cricket Equipment Rules: Bat, Ball, Stumps Size (2025)
7) Ball tampering by the fielding side
If umpires judge that the fielding side unfairly changed the condition of the ball, the opposing side gets five penalty runs. The captain of the non-offending side may also ask for a replacement ball with similar wear. If the same team does it again, the punishment becomes even stronger and the bowler who delivered the previous ball can be suspended from bowling again in the match.
Real match story:
A famous example came in the second Test between Pakistan and South Africa in Dubai in 2013. Faf du Plessis was found guilty of ball tampering, the umpires changed the ball, and Pakistan were awarded five penalty runs. Another famous and more controversial example came in the Oval Test in 2006, when England were awarded five penalty runs against Pakistan after the umpires believed the ball had been tampered with.
8) Time wasting by the fielding side
If the fielding side wastes time, the umpire first warns them. If there is another offence in that innings, the batting side gets five penalty runs.
Real match story:
A documented example came in Sri Lanka domestic cricket in 2008, in a match between Moors and Colts Cricket Club. The umpires decided that Colts captain Jeevantha Kulatunga had used deliberate time-wasting tactics after already being warned, so Moors were awarded five penalty runs. Those five runs actually changed the result and gave Moors the win.
9) Repeated avoidable damage to the pitch by a fielder
If a fielder damages the pitch deliberately or avoidably, the captain gets a first and final warning. If it happens again in the innings, the batting side gets five penalty runs.
Real match story:
I could not find a clearly documented international or major domestic example where umpires actually awarded five penalty runs for this exact fielding-side offence. The law is there, and after a warning the batting side can receive five penalty runs, but famous top-level examples are extremely hard to find.
Also Read More About: Rules of Replacing the Ball in Cricket (T20, ODI & Test)
10) Practice on the field after warning
Law 26 also allows five penalty runs to the opposing side if there is a further contravention of practice-on-the-field rules after warning. So depending on which team breaks that law, the other side gets the five runs.
Real match story:
I could not find a clearly documented major-match example where a team was actually punished with five penalty runs for this exact offence. The rule does exist in the laws and playing conditions, but it appears to be one of the rarest penalty-run situations in published top-level match coverage.
11) Player misconduct by the fielding side
Player conduct laws can also produce five penalty runs to the opposing team. A Level 2 offence brings an immediate five-run penalty to the other side, and repeated Level 1 offences can also lead to five penalty runs.
Real match story:
A very useful real example came in the County Championship in April 2023, when Lancashire’s Colin de Grandhomme threw the ball back at Essex batter Matt Critchley in an inappropriate manner. The umpires treated it as a Level 2 Law 42 offence and awarded five penalty runs to Essex. This is a strong example because it shows how player conduct, not just technical fielding mistakes, can also produce penalty runs.
When does the fielding side get five penalty runs?
The fielding side can also receive five penalty runs, but the situations are different.
1) Deliberate short run
This is one of the best-known batting-side penalties. If either umpire decides that one or both batters deliberately ran short to gain an unfair advantage, the fielding side gets five penalty runs. Under the laws, this is treated very seriously because it is an intentional attempt to cheat the running.
Real match story:
The best-known example came in the second Test between Sri Lanka and England at Pallekele in November 2018. Roshen Silva was judged to have deliberately run short, and England were awarded five penalty runs. The incident became famous because many viewers felt it looked more careless than dishonest, but the umpires still applied the law.
2) Batter wasting time after warning
If the batters have already been warned and there is further time wasting in that innings, the fielding side gets five penalty runs.
Real match story :
I could not find a clearly documented top-level match where five penalty runs were actually awarded for this exact offence. A useful near-example came in Colombo in 2012, when Kevin Pietersen was warned and told that further delay could lead to five penalty runs, but the penalty itself was not applied. So this is a real law, but a famous verified example is difficult to find.
Also Read More About: Cricket Helmet Rules for Fielders and Wicketkeepers: Full Detailed Guide
3) Repeated damage to the pitch by a batter
If a batter damages the pitch deliberately or avoidably after the first and final warning has already been given, the batting side loses the runs from that ball and the fielding side gets five penalty runs.
Real match story :
I could not find a clearly documented top-level example for this broader offence that was clearly reported separately from the more specific protected-area rule. In published match coverage, most famous batter pitch-damage penalties are reported under the protected-area law.
4) Repeated breach by the striker in the protected area
The striker must not keep taking guard in the protected area or so close that repeated encroachment is unavoidable. After the first and final warning, another breach in the innings gives five penalty runs to the fielding side.
Real match story :
A recent example came in the third Test between India and England at Rajkot in February 2024. India had already been warned once, and when R Ashwin ran on the protected area, England were awarded five penalty runs, which meant they started their innings on 5 for 0. Another good example came in the Women’s World T20 in 2018, when Pakistan were penalised twice against India for repeated breaches of the danger area.
5) Batters trying to steal a run during the bowler’s run-up
The laws call this unfair. If the batters try to steal a run during the bowler’s run-up, the umpire calls dead ball, sends them back, disallows the attempted run, and awards five penalty runs to the fielding side, unless the bowler instead attempts the run-out of the non-striker under the run-out law.
Real match story :
I could not find a clearly documented international or major domestic match where umpires actually awarded five penalty runs for this exact offence. The law absolutely exists, and MCC explanations note that such penalties are possible, but published top-level examples are extremely rare.
6) Player misconduct by the batting side
Just like with the fielding side, player conduct offences under Law 42 can give five penalty runs to the opposing team.
Real match story:
I could not find a clearly documented major-match example where the batting side was punished under Law 42 and the fielding side immediately received five penalty runs. The law clearly allows this, but in top-level published coverage the well-known examples are either fielding-side misconduct or general post-match code-of-conduct punishments rather than an on-field five-run award against the batting side.
Real match stories that explain five penalty runs
Sri Lanka penalised for a deliberate short run against England in 2018
One of the most talked-about modern examples came in the second Test at Pallekele in November 2018. Sri Lanka were penalised five runs after Roshen Silva was judged to have made a deliberate short run. It as a strange and unusual application of the deliberate short-run law, and England’s first-innings total was increased by five.
This incident matters because it showed fans that a short run is not always just “one run not counted.” If the umpire believes the short run was deliberate, the punishment becomes much bigger.
Marnus Labuschagne and the fake fielding case in 2017
In September 2017, Queensland’s Marnus Labuschagne became one of the first famous players punished under the modern fake-fielding rule. Cricket.com.au reported that he dived, missed the ball, then shaped to throw as if he had collected it, and Queensland were hit with five penalty runs.
This case became famous because it was one of the clearest real-life examples of a fielder trying to mislead the batters by action rather than by actually fielding the ball. It helped many fans understand the difference between normal movement and deliberate deception.
Australia penalised for running on the protected area in 2020
At the SCG in January 2020, Australia were penalised five runs against New Zealand after Marnus Labuschagne was warned and then David Warner again ran down the protected area of the pitch. The penalty was added to New Zealand’s first-innings total.
This was a perfect example of how the law works in two steps: first the warning, then the punishment. It also showed that even top international players can still get caught by technical laws.
Zimbabwe awarded five runs when the ball hit Quinton de Kock’s glove in 2022
In the 2022 T20 World Cup, ESPNcricinfo’s full scorecard recorded that Zimbabwe were awarded five penalty runs because the relay throw hit Quinton de Kock’s glove while it was sitting on the ground.
That moment is a very good teaching example for illegal fielding and loose equipment. Fans often think any glove or helmet touching the ball is the same type of incident, but the law changes depending on whether the equipment is being worn, dropped accidentally, or lying on the ground in play.
The U.S. became the first team punished under the ICC stop-clock in 2024
Under ICC playing conditions, not just the MCC Laws, the stop clock became a permanent white-ball international rule from June 2024. The fielding side must be ready to start the next over within 60 seconds; after two warnings, each further breach brings a five-run penalty. Reuters reported that the United States became the first team penalised under this rule in a T20 World Cup match against India.
This is an important detail for a modern article on five penalty runs because not every five-run penalty now comes only from the classic MCC Laws discussion people learned years ago. International cricket can add competition-specific five-run penalties through playing conditions as well.
The helmet-on-ground cases keep happening
Helmet penalties are still one of the easiest ways to explain five penalty runs to casual fans. Cricket.com.au reported one such case in Australia v South Africa at the SCG in January 2023, and another in Sri Lanka v Australia at Galle in February 2025 when a ball crashed into the spare protective helmet on the turf and five runs were added.
These moments are perfect reminders that even when nobody is trying to cheat, poor equipment management can still cost a side five runs.
Old rules and current updates you should know
The core MCC structure remains that five penalty runs can go to either side depending on the offence, and Law 41.17 explains exactly how they are scored.
But there are also modern updates in ICC playing conditions. In June 2025, the ICC announced that in international cricket a deliberate short run still carries the existing five-run penalty, and now the fielding team also chooses which batter takes strike for the next delivery. That makes the punishment even stronger than before.
The stop-clock rule is another big modern update. It became permanent in Full Member ODIs and T20Is from June 2024, and a third breach after two warnings brings a five-run penalty each time.
The easiest way to remember the rule
The simplest way to remember five penalty runs is this:
If one side does something unfair, illegal, deceptive, or repeatedly careless, the umpire can add five runs directly to the other side. Some offences happen instantly, like fake fielding or illegal fielding. Some come only after a warning, like wasting time or damaging the pitch. And some modern ICC playing conditions, like the stop clock, also use the same five-run punishment.
Final answer
So, five penalty runs in cricket are a special five-run award given by the umpire when a side breaks certain laws. The batting side can get them for things like fake fielding, illegal fielding, helmet contact on the ground, unfair wicketkeeper movement, time wasting by fielders, or ball tampering by the opposition. The fielding side can get them for deliberate short runs, batter time wasting, pitch damage, protected-area offences, or stealing a run during the bowler’s run-up.
That is why these five runs feel so dramatic on the scoreboard: they are not ordinary runs. They are the game’s way of saying, a rule was broken, and the punishment is immediate.
FAQs
1. What are five penalty runs in cricket?
Five penalty runs are extra runs awarded by the umpire when a team breaks an important cricket rule.
2. Who gets five penalty runs in cricket?
Either side can get five penalty runs, depending on which team committed the offence.
3. When does the batting side get five penalty runs?
The batting side can get five penalty runs for things like fake fielding, illegal fielding, ball tampering, or the ball hitting a spare helmet on the ground.
4. When does the fielding side get five penalty runs?
The fielding side can get five penalty runs for things like a deliberate short run, batter time wasting, or repeated damage to the pitch.
5. Does a helmet on the ground cause five penalty runs?
Yes, if the ball hits the fielding side’s spare helmet lying on the ground, the batting side usually gets five penalty runs.
6. Is fake fielding punished with five penalty runs?
Yes, fake fielding can lead to five penalty runs for the batting side.
7. Can five penalty runs be given in international cricket?
Yes, five penalty runs can be awarded in both domestic and international cricket under the laws and playing conditions.
8. Are five penalty runs counted as normal runs?
No, they are counted as penalty extras, not as runs scored from the bat.
9. Can five penalty runs change a match result?
Yes, in close matches five penalty runs can make a big difference and sometimes even affect the final result.
10. Why are five penalty runs given?
They are given to punish unfair play, illegal actions, or repeated rule-breaking during a match.
Ethan Richards is a sports rules specialist known for breaking down complex cricket laws into clear, reader-friendly guides. His articles focus on match formats, powerplays, no-balls, DRS, and game-changing rules across T20, ODI, and Test cricket. Ethan aims to make every rule easy to understand for fans and beginners.