What Does “c & b” Mean in Cricket Scorecard?
What Does “c & b” Mean in Cricket Scorecard? (Explained Simply)
While watching cricket or checking a scorecard, beginners often see a dismissal written as “c & b” and get confused.
Questions like:
What does c & b mean?
Who takes the catch?
Is it different from a normal catch?
Don’t worry.
In this article, you’ll learn what “c & b” means in cricket scorecards, how it happens, and how to read it correctly — explained in simple, beginner-friendly language.
What Does “c & b” Mean in Cricket?
In cricket, “c & b” stands for:
Caught and Bowled
It means:
The bowler bowls the ball
The batsman hits the ball
The same bowler catches the ball
The batsman is out
So, the bowler takes the wicket by catching the ball off his own bowling.
Simple Definition (Beginner Version)
✔ c = caught
✔ b = bowled (by the bowler)
👉 Caught and Bowled = Bowler catches the batsman himself
Example of “c & b” in a Scorecard
You might see a scorecard entry like this:
Virat Kohli c & b Anderson 34 28 4 1
This means:
Virat Kohli scored 34 runs
He was caught and bowled
The bowler James Anderson bowled the ball and caught it himself
How Does a “c & b” Dismissal Happen?
A caught and bowled dismissal usually happens when:
The batsman plays a defensive shot
Or mistimes the ball
The ball goes straight back to the bowler
The bowler catches it before it touches the ground
This often happens on:
Slow deliveries
Spinners’ bowling
Soft shots near the pitch
Is “c & b” a Common Dismissal?
Yes, but it’s less common than normal catches.
Why?
The ball must go directly to the bowler
The bowler must react very quickly
Spinners get more c & b wickets than fast bowlers.
Difference Between “c & b” and Normal Catch
Many beginners confuse this.
| c & b | Normal Catch |
|---|---|
| Bowler catches the ball | Fielder catches the ball |
| Same player bowls & catches | Two different players |
| Written as “c & b” | Written as “c fielder b bowler” |
Example of normal catch:
c Smith b Starc
Example of caught and bowled:
c & b Starc
Does “c & b” Count as a Catch?
Yes ✅
It is officially a caught dismissal.
The bowler is credited with:
1 wicket
1 catch
Can a Batsman Be Not Out if the Ball Hits the Ground?
Yes.
For c & b to be valid:
The ball must be caught cleanly
It must not touch the ground
If the ball touches the ground → Not out
Does “c & b” Count in Bowling Figures?
Yes.
A caught and bowled dismissal:
Counts as a wicket
Appears in the bowler’s figures
Improves bowling strike rate
To understand bowling figures better, read
👉 What Is Economy Rate in Cricket?
Why “c & b” Is Considered Special
Cricket fans enjoy c & b dismissals because:
It shows the bowler’s quick reflexes
It’s often unexpected
It looks impressive
Commentators often praise bowlers for such catches.
Common Beginner Confusions About “c & b”
❌ Thinking the wicketkeeper caught the ball
❌ Thinking it’s the same as bowled
❌ Thinking it doesn’t count as a catch
✔ It is a caught dismissal
✔ Bowler is both catcher and bowler
“c & b” vs “b” (Bowled)
| c & b | b (Bowled) |
|---|---|
| Ball touches bat | Ball hits stumps |
| Catch involved | No catch |
| Requires clean catch | No catch needed |
Learn more about bowled and other dismissals in
👉 Cricket Rules Explained Simply for Beginners
Is “c & b” Allowed in All Formats?
Yes.
Caught and bowled dismissals are valid in:
Test cricket
ODI cricket
T20 cricket
The rule is the same in all formats.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
❓ Who gets the credit for a “c & b” wicket?
The bowler gets both the wicket and the catch.
❓ Is “c & b” rare?
It’s not very common, but it happens regularly, especially with spinners.
❓ Can “c & b” happen on a no ball?
No. If the delivery is a no ball, the batsman cannot be out caught.
To understand this, read
👉 What Is a No Ball in Cricket?
Final Summary (Beginner Friendly)
✔ “c & b” means caught and bowled
✔ Bowler catches the ball himself
✔ It counts as a caught dismissal
✔ Bowler gets wicket + catch
✔ Common with spinners
Once you know this, reading a cricket scorecard becomes much easier.
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