A no ball is an illegal delivery in cricket where the bowler breaks one of several rules during their delivery action. Common reasons include overstepping the popping crease, bowling above waist height (full toss), throwing rather than bowling, or having more than two fielders behind square on the leg side. A no ball gives the batting side a 1-run penalty and, in limited-overs cricket, a free hit on the next delivery. Understanding no balls is crucial because they fundamentally change momentum and are increasingly enforced by technology in modern cricket.
Types of No Ball
Type | Cause | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
Front foot no ball | Bowler's front foot lands outside the popping crease | Most common |
Back foot no ball | Back foot lands on or outside the return crease | Rare |
Height no ball (beamer) | Full toss above waist height | Common |
Throw / chuck | Bowling action exceeds 15° elbow extension | Rare at top level |
Field placement no ball | More than 2 fielders behind square on leg side | Rare |
Bouncer no ball | More than the allowed bouncers per over | Common in limited-overs |
The Front Foot No Ball
The most common type. The bowler's front foot must land behind the popping crease as they release the ball. If any part of the front foot is grounded behind the crease, it is legal. If the entire foot is past the line when grounded, it is a no ball.
Modern cricket uses front-foot technology in international matches, where third umpires monitor every delivery via slow-motion replays. This has dramatically reduced missed no balls. Before this technology, on-field umpires regularly missed up to 10-15% of front foot no balls.
The Beamer (Height No Ball)
A delivery that passes the batter at waist height or above without bouncing is automatically a no ball. The waist is measured at the batter's normal stance position. Beamers are dangerous because they aim near the head, and bowlers who deliver multiple beamers in an innings can be banned from bowling for the rest of that innings.
Bouncer Limit (No Ball)
In limited-overs cricket, bowlers are limited to 2 bouncers per over. A third bouncer in the same over is called as a no ball. In Tests, there is no per-over limit, but umpires can call short pitched bowling intimidatory if it becomes excessive.
For the full breakdown of how overs are structured across cricket formats, our overs guide covers it.
The Free Hit Rule
In limited-overs cricket (ODIs and T20s), every no ball is followed by a free hit. On the free hit:
The batter cannot be dismissed by any method except run out, hit the ball twice, or obstructing the field
No bowled, caught, LBW, or stumped dismissal applies
Field placements stay the same as the no ball delivery
If the bowler bowls another no ball, the next delivery is also a free hit
This rule was introduced in 2007 to penalise teams for over-stepping. It has changed limited-overs strategy. Top-order batters often look for huge shots on free hits because there is almost no risk.
Penalties for a No Ball
A no ball costs the bowling side:
1 run added to the batting team's score (extras column)
The delivery does not count toward the over (must be re-bowled)
Free hit on the next delivery in limited-overs cricket
The bowler cannot dismiss the batter on the no ball except by run out, hit ball twice, or obstructing the field
If the batter scores additional runs off the no ball, those are added to their personal score, not the extras tally.
From experience: At every level of cricket, no balls are momentum killers for bowlers. As a bowler, you build pressure with dot balls and tight lines, then a single overstep gives the batter a free hit and 1 extra run. Some bowlers develop the habit of landing right on the line, which sounds aggressive but means almost every front foot landing is borderline. The smartest bowlers leave 5-10cm margin behind the line and never have to worry about no balls.
How Technology Changed No Ball Calling
Until 2020, on-field umpires called all front foot no balls. Studies showed they missed roughly 10-15%, including some that resulted in wickets that should have been recalled.
The ICC introduced the third umpire front-foot review system in 2020. Now:
Every delivery is reviewed by the third umpire
If the front foot landed beyond the crease, the third umpire calls a no ball
Dismissals are checked for no ball before being given out
The system has caught countless no balls that on-field umpires missed
Bowled No Balls in Famous Matches
Some of cricket's most controversial moments involve no balls:
2019 World Cup Final: Trent Boult caught Ben Stokes off Lockie Ferguson, but his foot brushed the boundary rope. Not a no ball but reviewed extensively. Stokes survived and went on to win the match for England
2021 IPL: Multiple high-profile dismissals were overturned after third-umpire no ball reviews caught the front foot just over the line
Conclusion
No balls are one of cricket's most important rules because they protect the contest between bat and ball. The free hit rule in limited-overs makes them especially costly for bowlers. Modern technology has made enforcement much more accurate. For bowlers, the lesson is simple: leave a margin behind the crease. For viewers, the no ball signal (one arm extended sideways) is a key piece of cricket vocabulary. To see how no balls fit into the wider rule structure, our guide on all 11 dismissals shows what is and is not allowed, and our cricket scoring guide covers exactly how no ball runs are recorded.
FAQs
What is a no ball in cricket?
An illegal delivery where the bowler breaks rules like overstepping the crease, bowling above waist height, or exceeding bouncer limits. Costs 1 run plus a free hit in limited-overs cricket.
Can a batter be out off a no ball?
Only by run out, hit the ball twice, or obstructing the field. They cannot be bowled, caught, LBW, or stumped on a no ball.
What is a free hit in cricket?
The delivery after a no ball in limited-overs cricket. The batter cannot be dismissed except by run out or obstruction. Field placements stay unchanged from the no ball.
How many bouncers are allowed per over?
2 bouncers per over in ODIs and T20s. A third bouncer is called as a no ball. Tests have no per-over limit but umpires can intervene for excessive intimidatory bowling.
