The full form of LBW is Leg Before Wicket. It is one of the 10 ways through which a batter can be dismissed in a cricket match. Know LBW rules and its history. The full form of LBW is Leg Before Wicket. The term “Leg” refers to the batsman’s leg, “Before” means in front of, and “Wicket” refers to the stumps behind the batsman. The definition of leg before wicket ( lbw ) is currently Law 36 in the Laws of Cricket, written by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Before a batter can be dismissed lbw , the fielding team must appeal to the umpire. LBW is an initialism that stands for Leg Before Wicket, a cricket rule that dismisses a batsman when the ball hits his leg in front of the wicket. Learn more about LBW , its definition, examples, and other full forms of LBW in different categories.