What Is No Ball In Cricket?
Even the smallest mistake or a crucial moment in Cricket matches can change the course of the entire contest. A faulty ball delivery by the Bowler can allow the opposing batters to gain the upper hand instantly. For this reason, cricket fans are curious about the answer to the question of what is no ball in cricket. According to Cricket rules, delivering the ball from an incorrect position can cause the ball to be ruled invalid. The no ball rules set by the ICC and MCC are strict and cover more than one position.
In our guide, we will discuss all faulty deliveries and the official bowling rules. After learning the rules, you will notice that a no ball can sometimes be related to the height of the ball, how the ball lands, or even the positioning of the fielders. So, let’s not drag it out any further and take a closer look at what no ball in cricket is.
Types of No Ball in Cricket
Above we mentioned that there are no ball in cricket rules. The rules depend on a set of important clauses determined by the MCC. Before starting to bet on Cricket matches at 1xBet, learning the answer to the question of what does no ball mean in cricket may be a smart move. Here are the Law 21 and no ball delivery rules you definitely need to know;
Front foot no ball: If the Bowler’s front foot crosses the popping crease even slightly, a no ball is called. Overstepping is one of the most common no ball errors in Cricket matches. Immediately after that, the umpire awards a free hit.
Illegal arm action: In cricket, an illegal arm action is a penalty applied when a bowler extends their elbow more than 15 degrees during delivery. After this incident, the umpire may award a penalty by counting a no ball.
Back foot infringement: If the Bowler’s back foot touches the line during the delivery, it becomes a no-ball.
Underarm delivery: If the umpire sees that the ball was not delivered in a normal bowling action and was thrown instead, it may be called a no ball.
Failure to notify a change in delivery mode: The Bowler must notify whether he is using his right hand, left hand, over the wicket, or round the wicket. If he does not notify the umpire, a no ball is called.
Ball bouncing more than once: If the delivered ball bounces on the ground more than once before reaching the batter, it becomes a no ball.
Ball rolling along the ground: If the ball comes in by sliding or rolling along the ground inside the field, it counts as a no ball reason.
Ball landing of the pitch: If the ball lands outside the pitch, it is called a no ball.
Ball too far away or stopping in front of the batter: If the ball goes too far away for the batter to hit, meaning outside the pitch, or stops in front of the wicket, it is considered a no ball.
Ball striking a fielder: If the ball delivered by the Bowler strikes a fielder before reaching the batter, it is called a no ball.
Wicket keeper in an incorrect position: If the wicket-keeper does not remain behind the stumps before the ball reaches the batter, a no ball is awarded.
Dangerous short delivery: If the delivered ball is considered short, dangerous, or unfair, the umpire calls a no ball.
Dangerous full toss: If the ball comes through without bouncing in a flat trajectory and passes above the batter’s waist height, it is considered unfair, and the umpire applies no ball rules.
The rules listed above clearly explain the topic of what is a no ball in cricket. If you are new to Cricket matches and betting, it may be useful to learn Law 21 easily. In general, no ball is most often applied under the foot over crease rules. For more details, you can check the MCC’s official page.
No Ball Rules and Their Potential Consequences
Up to this point, we have discussed no ball rules and types in detail. However, we have not yet touched on what kind of consequences such rule violations may create during a match. In this section, we will talk about no ball situations that may occur in any overs in a simple Cricket match. Thanks to the sample scenario, you will fully understand what no ball meaning in cricket is and how it is applied.
Let us assume that you are watching an IPL T20 match, namely a match between the Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. If the Mumbai Indians bowler oversteps the line with his front foot while delivering the ball, the umpire immediately calls a no ball. With the rule being applied, Chennai Super Kings automatically receive 1 extra run. Since the ball remains in play, the striker plays the shot and sends the ball to the boundary. In this way, a total of 5 runs come from a single delivery.
Also, when bowling, if the player bowls a no ball, the umpire calls for a rebowl. The bowler continues to bowl in that over until he reaches 6 valid deliveries. In cases where the player makes repeated mistakes, he may even need to bowl 10 deliveries in a single over.
Front Foot No Ball - Most Common Type
No ball in cricket has an important type that is applied very frequently in matches. This type is known as a front foot no ball. A front foot no ball means that the bowler’s front foot must remain behind the popping crease while delivering the ball. According to the MCC’s rules, part of the player’s front foot must be grounded, or even if it is in the air, it must still be behind the line. If it is not on the correct side of the line, the umpire gives a no ball decision. The decision and its application are as follows;
In cricket, the most common infringement is overstepping. When the bowler’s front foot lands, if it is behind or on the popping crease, it is judged as a no ball. Also, if the bowler’s foot goes beyond the line at the moment of delivery, even while still in the air, a no ball decision is given.
After the decision, 1 run is awarded to the batting side, or +1 run is added to the batting team.
A rebowl decision is applied, and the next delivery becomes a free hit.
During a match, it can sometimes be quite difficult for umpires to detect a front foot no ball. For this reason, the decision can be made through an electronic check by the TV umpire.
Famous No Ball Controversies in Cricket
No ball in cricket may look like an innocent rule, but it should not be forgotten that it can be highly critical in terms of the course of a match. In this section, we will explain the major no ball controversies that left their mark on cricket history.
Match Fixing Scandal in Pakistan Cricket
In the Test match played between England and Pakistan in August 2010, an unbelievable sporting scandal took place. Pakistani players Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif deliberately bowled "no ball" at predetermined moments after reaching an agreement with a betting syndicate. Amir, in particular, shocked commentators and viewers by making a very obvious no ball error after overstepping the line by almost half a meter. After the investigation and legal process carried out on the matter, Amir, Asif, and team captain Salman Butt were sentenced to prison and banned from cricket.
MS Dhoni and the No Ball Controversy
In the 2019 Indian Premier League season, a group stage match was played between Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. On the fourth ball of the final over, Ben Stokes delivered a waist-high full toss and the on-field umpire initially signalled it as a no ball. However, square leg umpire Bruce Oxenford overturned the decision and sparked controversy. Following the decision, MS Dhoni stormed onto the field from the dugout and walked toward the umpires. Despite this strong reaction, the umpires enforced the decision that had been made. Dhoni was also fined 50% of his match fee because of this action.
Lasith Malinga’s Controversial No Ball
A critical moment took place in the 2019 IPL match between the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Mumbai Indians. On the final ball of the match, Malinga clearly made a foot over the crease error. The umpire did not see it, and no no ball was given. If a no ball had been called, the delivery would have been rebowled and followed by a free hit, which would have had a very serious impact on the result. At the end of the match, RCB star Virat Kohli said, “We are playing at IPL level, not club cricket.”
No Ball in Different Cricket Formats
Although the answer to the question What is no ball in cricket is always the same, its consequences may vary depending on the cricket format. Especially when doing bet on cricket, it is necessary to pay attention to the no ball rules according to the tournament. For this reason, we will clearly show the no ball rules in T20, ODI, and Test matches in table form.
Feature | Test | T20 - IPL | ODI |
Extra Run | 1 Run | 1 Run | 1 Run |
Rebowl | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Ball Stays in Play? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
If It Coincides with a Wide | No ball takes priority | No ball takes priority | No ball takes priority |
Free Hit | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Field Change on Free Hit | None | Not allowed | Not allowed |
FAQ
What does no ball mean in cricket?
No ball in cricket means the bowler delivers the ball in a way that is completely against the rules. As a result, the batting team is awarded 1 extra run, and that ball is not counted as one of the valid deliveries in the over.
How many types of no ball are there?
According to the regulations set by the MCC and ICC, there are more than 10 no ball rules. You can check our article to learn all the rules.
What is penalty for no ball?
In Cricket, the penalty for a no ball is awarding 1 extra run to the batting team, and that delivery is not counted as one of the valid balls in the over. In short, as a penalty, the bowler has to bowl one extra ball.
