Explained: LBW rules and the controversial umpires' call in DRS

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the guardian of the laws of the game, there are ten ways in which a batsman can be dismissed in cricket. These are: 1. Bowled 2.

Caught 3. Hit the ball twice 4. Hit-wicket 5.

Leg before wicket (LBW) 6. Obstructing the field 7. Run out 8.

Stumped 9. Timed out. 10.

Handled the ball. THE OFTEN DEBATED LBW RULESOf all these laws, LBW has been one of the most controversial and error-prone methods of dismissal. For the longest time the on-field umpires decided whether a batsman was out LBW or not.

It's still done that way, except since 2008 (when DRS was first introduced in international cricket) the players can now challenge an on-field umpires decision, using this method. Over the decades, LBW is one rule that has seen multiple umpiring howlers. No other rule in cricket has seen as many changes as the LBW ones.

WHAT DOES THE RULE SAY?Law 36 states that: the batter is out LBW if the bowler delivers a legitimate delivery (not a no-ball), the ball pitches in line between wicket and wicket or on the off side of the striker's wicket, the ball not having previously touched his/her bat, the striker intercepts the ball, either full-pitch or after pitching, with any part of his/her person, the point of impact, even if above the level of the bails, either is between wicket and wicket or if the striker has made no genuine attempt to play the ball with the bat, is between wicket and wicket or outside the line of the off stump, but for the interception, the ball would have hit the wicket. If the ball pitches outside the leg stump of the batter, then the LBW dismissal is ruled out. Over the years, LBW has been the most error-prone dismissal because the umpires get only a fraction of a second to make the