No-Ball Rules in Cricket: Every Way a Delivery Can Be Called
A clear guide to no-balls in cricket: front-foot overstepping, high full tosses, bouncer limits, fielding breaches, the penalty and how batters can be out.
A no-ball is an illegal delivery. When an umpire calls one, the batting side receives an extra run, the ball must be bowled again, and the batter is protected from most forms of dismissal. No-balls are a nuisance for bowlers and a bonus for batters, and they can decide close matches. This guide covers the main ways a no-ball can happen.
Front-foot and back-foot faults
The most familiar no-ball is the front-foot no-ball. The bowler’s front foot has to land with some part of it behind the popping crease, which is the line in front of the stumps. If the whole foot lands completely over that line, the delivery is a no-ball. The back foot also matters: it has to land within the return crease, the lines at the side of the stumps, and must not touch them. Breaking these limits makes the delivery illegal even though the bowler has not overstepped at the front.
In many modern matches the third umpire checks front-foot no-balls using camera replays. This reduces the number of missed overstepping calls that used to go unnoticed on the field, and it has made the rule more consistently applied at the top level.
Dangerous or high deliveries
Height is another factor. A full toss that passes above waist height of a batter standing upright at the crease is a no-ball, because it can be dangerous. Bouncers are controlled as well:
- In limited-overs cricket, only a set number of short-pitched deliveries that pass above shoulder height are allowed per over, and extra ones are called as no-balls.
- In Tests the limits on short balls are governed by different conditions, and umpires also consider whether a bowler is bowling fast, short deliveries at a batter in a way that is intimidating or dangerous.
- A bowler who repeatedly bowls dangerous deliveries can be removed from the attack.
The permitted number of bouncers depends on the format and the competition, so check the playing conditions of a specific tournament. A beamer, which is a full toss aimed at the batter’s head, is always treated as a serious offence.
Other reasons for a no-ball
Besides the foot and height rules, a delivery can also be a no-ball if:
- The ball bounces more than twice or rolls along the ground before reaching the batter.
- The bowler throws instead of bowling, which breaches the rules on the straightness of the arm.
- The wicketkeeper is standing in front of the stumps before the ball has passed the stumps or been struck.
- The fielding side breaks field-placement rules, for example by having too few fielders inside the circle during a powerplay or too many fielders behind square on the leg side.
- A fielder encroaches on the pitch, or the bowler removes the bails before delivery in the wrong way.
The details of field restrictions vary by format, which is why a fielding breach can be a no-ball in a T20 match and may not apply in the same way in a Test.
What happens after a no-ball
The umpire signals a no-ball by extending one arm horizontally. The penalty is one run, added to the batting team’s total as an extra, and the delivery does not count as one of the six legal balls in the over. Any runs scored off the bat on that delivery are added as well. For limited-overs matches, the next ball is typically a free hit, on which the batter can only be run out, handle the ball, obstruct the field or hit the ball twice.
On the no-ball delivery itself, the dismissals available are limited in the same way. A batter cannot be bowled, caught, leg before, stumped or out hit wicket off a no-ball. They can still be run out, or dismissed for handling the ball, hitting the ball twice or obstructing the field.
Why no-balls matter
Bowlers lose runs, rhythm and sometimes wickets from no-balls. A wicket taken from a no-ball does not count, and a bowler who realises that after an apparent dismissal usually loses all the momentum. The rule exists for fairness as well as safety. It stops bowlers gaining an advantage by delivering the ball from closer to the batter, and it protects the batter from dangerous deliveries.
In short, a no-ball is called for overstepping, dangerous height, breaches of the fielding rules or illegal bowling actions. Understanding the main causes helps explain why an apparently perfect delivery sometimes ends up being rebowled.
Frequently asked questions
What is the penalty for a no-ball?
The batting side is awarded one run, plus any runs scored off the delivery, and the ball is rebowled. The no-ball does not count as one of the six legal balls in the over.
How can a batter be out off a no-ball?
Only by being run out, handling the ball, hitting the ball twice or obstructing the field. Bowled, caught, lbw, stumped and hit wicket are not possible.
Is a high full toss a no-ball?
Yes. A full toss that passes above waist height of an upright batter at the crease is called as a no-ball because it is considered dangerous.