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Two single marks in the same box of an over, both meaning no runs.
A dot records a delivery from which nothing was scored; a W records a wicket. Both mean no runs came from the ball, and only one means somebody was out.
A dot records nothing happening; a W records a wicket falling. Both occupy one box of an over and both mean no runs were scored, which is why a hurried scorer can conflate them.
Drawn from the visual attributes recorded for each symbol. Only traits the two records disagree about are listed.
| Trait | Dot ball (·) | Wicket mark (W) |
|---|---|---|
| Built from | lines and dots | letter like |
| Symmetry | radial | vertical |
| Orientation | orientation independent | upright |
| Dot ball (·) | Wicket mark (W) | |
|---|---|---|
| Mark | A single dot | A capital W |
| Runs scored | None | None |
| Wicket fell? | No | Yes |
| Six of them make | A maiden over | A very unusual over |
| Manner of dismissal | Not applicable | Recorded separately in the batter's line |
| Relationship (from Symbolwise's records) | Commonly confused with Wicket mark (W) — A dot records nothing happening; a W records a wicket falling. Both occupy one box of an over and both mean no runs were scored, which is why a hurried scorer can conflate them. | Commonly confused with Dot ball (·) — Both mean no runs came from the ball, but only the W means someone was out. |
Wikipedia · retrieved 2026-08-02
Tertiary reference. Cited for how a mark is written and read in ordinary practice, and for conventions no governing body issues. Never cited for a claim that a rule says something — the rulebooks below carry those.
Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) · retrieved 2026-08-02
MCC has been the custodian of the Laws since 1787 and publishes them openly. Authoritative for the umpire's signals, which the Laws specify individually. Scorebook notation is a separate convention and is not defined by the Laws.
Both arms sweeping forward means play continues and no kick is coming. One arm straight up means a kick is coming and cannot score directly. Confusing them changes whether players expect a stoppage.
The plain black flag excludes the competitor: their race is over. The black flag with an orange disc reports a mechanical problem that endangers others and sends the driver to the pits to have it fixed, after which they may rejoin. Both are shown with a number board, both are black, and confusing them costs a competitor a race they could have finished.
A cross means all ten pins fell to the first ball; a forward slash means it took two. The cross carries two deliveries of bonus and the slash only one, which is why three strikes are needed for a frame to reach thirty.
The exclamation mark praises a move, the question mark criticises it. Neither is defined by FIDE: unlike the rest of chess notation these are publishing convention, and two annotators may disagree about the same move.