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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIn cricket, the inside edge is the edge of the bat on the same side as the nearer wicket. In a conventional batting stance, that is the bat edge closest to the batter’s body. If the ball catches it, the deflection can send the ball onto the pads or toward the stumps.
Which side of the bat is the inside edge?
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) defines an inside edge as “the edge on the same side as the nearer wicket” in its Laws of Cricket, Appendix A. Cricket Ireland repeats the same definition in its 2026 IP20 Playing Conditions.
For a batter facing the bowler, the nearer wicket is normally the striker’s wicket. The inside edge is therefore generally the bat edge nearest the batter’s body; the outside edge is the opposite edge. The wicket-based definition is the precise one, especially if a player’s stance or orientation makes “near” more useful than “left” or “right.”
What happens when the ball takes an inside edge?
Inside-edge contact is often accidental: the ball clips the bat while passing close to the batter. Its direction after contact depends on the ball’s angle and timing. It may go onto the batter’s pads or deflect toward the fine-leg side, but it can also travel back toward the stumps.
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Can an inside edge get the batter out?
Yes. If the deflection reaches and dislodges the stumps, the batter can be bowled. An edge by itself is not a dismissal; the result depends on what happens next and whether the relevant conditions for a dismissal are met.
Inside edge vs. outside edge
| Feature | Inside edge | Outside edge |
|---|---|---|
| Bat side | Same side as the nearer wicket, as defined by the MCC. | Opposite side to the inside edge. |
| Likely direction after contact | May deflect onto the pads, toward fine leg, or back toward the stumps; angle and timing matter. | Depends on the contact angle and timing; no single direction is guaranteed. |
| Dismissal risk | Can result in the batter being bowled if the ball dislodges the stumps. | Can offer a catch if it carries to a fielder; the outcome depends on the play. |
| Intent | Often accidental contact. | Often accidental contact. |
Is an inside edge the same as a French cut?
Not exactly. “Inside edge” names the bat contact itself. “French cut” is a cricket expression for a particular outcome in which an inside edge narrowly misses the stumps and runs away behind the batter, typically toward fine leg. Not every inside edge produces that outcome.
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Another meaning of “Inside Edge”
Context matters: Inside Edge is also the name of Unofficial Partner’s business-of-cricket series. Its May 19, 2026 episode, “UP550 Inside Edge: IPL Auctions and the Financialization of Everything,” discusses IPL auctions, player economics and franchise cricket. In a batting discussion, however, “inside edge” refers to the bat edge defined above.
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